Seattle-Area Mall Gunman, Shawn Kemp, Admits Guilt in Armed Attack Incident
Shawn Kemp's Assault Plea: All the Juicy Details
Got a minute? Let's dive into the latest on ex-baller, Shawn Kemp, who's been in the news for a seemingly never-ending legal battle. The former Seattle SuperSonics star, aged 55, recently pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on May 27, 2025[1][2][3]. But this ain't your average court case, folks.
Back in March 2023, ol' Shawn found himself in a bit of a pickle at the Tacoma Mall. According to Kemps' attorneys, he returned fire after some dudes in a Toyota 4Runner allegedly opened up on him first[1][3]. Fortunately, no one got hit by any bullets in this wild ride. However, the Tacoma cops saw things differently. Some video footage allegedly didn't support Kemp's story, leaving some seriously juicy questions hanging in the air. For instance, were Kemp armed when he approached the 4Runner? Did he go back to grab his piece after being fired upon? And why did he text "I'm about to shoot this [expletive]" 13 minutes before the incident, huh?[1]
But here's the twist: the two hombres in the 4Runner are currently nestled in a cell for other nefarious activities[1]. And guess what? One of them even sued Kemp for intentional infliction of emotional distress because of the shooting.
Now, let's clear up one thing: who really fired the first shot is still up for debate, but there's general agreement Kemp chased after that 4Runner[1]. So, why the chase? Well, it seems Kemp's stuck-up truck had been robbed, and they snatched his iPhone, his Gary Payton jersey, the purse of one of his cannabis dispensary employees, and other goods[1]. Shrewdly, using an app, Kemp tracked his stolen phone and apparently had words with one of the guys in the parking lot of a casino. This chat ended with the fellow returning some of Kemp's stuff, but not his iPhone[1]. Later, Kemp found his phone at the mall parking area and approached the 4Runner to demand the rest of his goods back.
Now, Kemp's sentencing is set for August 22, 2025[1][2][3]. The offer on the table is up to 10 years in the clink and a $20,000 fine. But Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Howe reckons nine months in the slammer and a year of Department of Corrections supervision might do the trick[1][2][4].
Over the years, Kemp has gotten himself tangled up in other legal knots. Back in 2000, Reebok terminated an $11.2 million endorsement deal with Kemp following some controversial comments[5]. Kemp took matters into his own hands, suing the company, who fired back with a counter-lawsuit. Eventually, the two parties settled their differences[5].
Now, onto a different story, let's talk Yasiel Puig, the Cuban outfielder who made headlines for a sports betting guilty plea overturned by a federal court. But that's another tale for another day[6].
## Did You Know?Shawn Kemp, nicknamed the Reign Man, was a basketball player who donned the jersey for teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic, and of course, the Seattle SuperSonics. Spanning 14 seasons from 1990 to 2003, Kemp's career reportedly earned him a cool $91.6 million in NBA salaries[5]. Kemp was well-renowned for his high-flying dunking ability and was a three-time All-NBA player.
[1] https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/crime/shawn-kemp-pleads-guilty-to-second-degree-assault/510-d8f19892-b0fb-4b6b-b775-4c23c2d1e5ef[2] https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/ex-seattle-sonics-star-shawn-kemp-pleads-guilty-to-second-degree-assault-in-tacoma-mall-shooting/[3] https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/shawn-kemp-pleads-guilty-to-second-degree-assault-in-tacoma-mall-shooting/[4] https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/ex-seattle-sonics-player-shawn-kemp-faces-hard-time-in-assault-case/[5] https://www.thesportster.com/basketball/shawn-kemp-career-highlights-awards/[6] https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/07/21/tacoma-man-lawsuit-yasiel-puig-betting-misdemeanor-oscar-gutierrez-parkland-shooting
- The sports analysis of Shawn Kemp's legal case reveals an intricate connection between crime-and-justice and sports, as the former NBA star pleaded guilty to a second-degree assault in a Tacoma Mall incident involving an altercation over stolen sports memorabilia.
- While Shawn Kemp's guilt in the second-degree assault plea gains general-news attention, an analysis of sports betting indicates another sports figure, Yasiel Puig, had a court case involving sports betting charges, but his guilty plea was overturned by a federal court.
