Ex-NBA star Shawn Kemp sued by incarcerated man for distress from Tacoma shooting

A lawsuit has been filed against former NBA star Shawn Kemp by Dajuan Jackson, who claims to have suffered emotional distress from a shooting incident involving Kemp at Tacoma Mall in March 2023. According to the lawsuit, Kemp shot at Jackson's vehicle without warning, leading to damages for personal injuries, including negligent infliction of emotional distress. Kemp, who is 55 years old, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault related to the shooting, which is still under investigation. His attorney stated that Kemp acted in self-defense, claiming he was fired upon first, although evidence does not support this assertion. Jackson, 39, is currently incarcerated and has a lengthy criminal record, which includes multiple felony convictions.

The lawsuit does not specify a monetary amount but requests damages to be determined at trial. Jackson’s attorney emphasized the urgency of filing the lawsuit before the statute of limitations expired. A trial readiness hearing for Kemp's ongoing criminal case is scheduled for February 7, 2025.