Shawn Kemp pleads guilty to 2nd-degree assault, avoiding trial in Tacoma shooting

Shawn Kemp, a legendary figure in the NBA, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, avoiding a trial linked to a March 2023 shooting incident in Tacoma Mall's parking lot. Initially charged with first-degree assault, Kemp faced new charges due to the involvement of two men during the altercation. The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office will recommend a nine-month jail sentence and a year of community custody at his upcoming sentencing on August 22. Had he faced trial and been convicted of the original charges, Kemp could have received a sentence of up to 15 years. His plea agreement acknowledges his claims of self-defense after tracking his stolen cell phone to the parking lot.

However, police reports indicate that video evidence does not support Kemp's account of the events. Following his sentencing, Kemp will not be permitted to own or carry firearms, nor possess ammunition. Legal experts indicate that his celebrity status may have influenced the plea deal, as juries often view well-known figures sympathetically.