Shawn Kemp avoids jail time in 2023 shooting case

Former SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp won’t serve jail time for his role in a March 2023 shooting outside a Washington state mall.

Kemp, a six-time All-Star, was sentenced to 30 days of electronic home monitoring, one year of state supervision, and 240 hours of community service, according to the Associated Press. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in May.

Prosecutors had pushed for nine months in jail, but Judge Michael Schwartz of Pierce County Superior Court decided a lighter sentence was warranted.

Kemp claimed self-defense, saying he returned fire after two men in a Toyota 4Runner shot at him. His defense team argued the confrontation stemmed from those same men stealing his truck, cellphone and memorabilia in Seattle. The 4Runner and another vehicle were damaged in the incident, but no one was injured.

Through attorney W. Scott Boatman, Kemp released a statement to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears thanking the court and acknowledging regret.

“Shawn is extremely grateful that the Court exercised its discretion to not impose any jail time and further based that decision on the fact that Shawn’s actions occurred as a result of a failed attempt of self defense,” the statement read. “Shawn is genuinely regretful of certain decisions he made that day and is committed to working with kids to help them understand the potential consequences of not thinking twice or acting impulsively.”

Kemp, now 54, played in the NBA from 1989 to 2003, best known for his run with the Seattle SuperSonics before later stints with Cleveland, Portland and Orlando.

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