TACOMA, Wash. — Seattle SuperSonics legend Shawn Kemp has pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for his involvement in a shooting outside the Tacoma Mall in 2023.
Kemp changed his plea on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. He was initially charged with two counts of first-degree assault.
Kemp has no previous criminal convictions, so the conviction carries a three to nine-month prison sentence. It’s a punishment the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s office sees as acceptable because Kemp “accepted responsibility,” according to their communications manager, Adam Faber.
“It’s a sentence that’s appropriate for the conduct he committed, but it is a felony, it is a strike offense, and we certainly want people to understand you can’t come down to our mall and start firing and not see some consequences for that,” said Faber, noting no one was injured in the incident.
The plea comes with an “open recommendation” meaning a sentence was not set as part of the agreement. Kemp’s attorneys say that leaves the possibility for Kemp to advocate for no prison time.
“Shawn has learned a tremendous amount throughout this process. In the months and years ahead, he will continue to dedicate himself to advocating for youths in the community and also speak to the impacts of his decisions that he made in this incident,” attorneys Aaron Kiviat and Tim Leary said in a statement.
Kemp is a one-third owner in the dispensaries that bear his name: Kemp Cannabis. The conviction of a Class B felony means the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board will consider the crime when renewing his marijuana business license. A spokesperson for the WALCB said that his co-owners could also use it to remove Kemp from the license. Calls and emails to the co-owners were not returned at the time of this posting.
What happened
Kent was accused of shooting at two people at a Tacoma Mall parking lot in 2023. Kemp has maintained that the two people he targeted broke into his car and stole several items.
“It was undisputed that Dajaun Jackson and Joshua Puente were in possession of Mr. Kemp’s stolen property while driving a stolen vehicle. Both had a significant history of crimes of dishonesty. Further, Mr. Jackson committed a drive-by shooting just four months after this incident and currently is serving a lengthy prison sentence,” Kiviat and Leary said in a statement.
He tracked them down through his stolen cell phone. When officers arrived, Kemp claimed he fired in self-defense.
On March 8, 2023, just before 2 p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired in the parking lot of the Tacoma Mall at the 4500 block of S. Steele St. No injuries were reported.
Officers located Kemp, who had allegedly fired the shots on Tacoma Mall property, detaining him without incident. The people Kemp was shooting at fled the scene.
Attorneys for Kemp claimed he acted out of self-defense, opening fire while trying to retrieve his stolen cell phone and other items.
“He had a black pistol and fired five-to-10 shots at the subject in the four-runner,” a 911 call told TMZ.
Kemp was released from police custody, but was charged in April in connection with an incident at the Tacoma Mall where he allegedly fired a handgun.
According to court documents, Kemp was charged with one count of first-degree assault. Officers found a .357 caliber revolver after responding to reports of shots fired at the mall.
According to Kemp and his defense team, his car had been prowled earlier that morning while it was at the Showbox in Seattle. Kemp never called 911. Instead, he allegedly tracked his stolen items due to his stolen phone still having its location turned on, leading him to the Tacoma Mall.
He said when he approached the SUV with his stolen phone, the rear passenger window came down, and a single shot was fired at him.
According to court documents, Kemp said that’s when he retreated to his car and fired two shots back. However, police obtained a video that showed Kemp firing as soon as he got out of his car.
Kemp will be sentenced on Aug. 22.
“The plea agreement between the parties is for an open sentencing recommendation, meaning each side is free to make its own recommendation to the judge at the sentencing hearing,” explained Adam Faber with the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Aaron Kiviat and Tim Leary, attorneys for Shawn Kemp, shared the following statement on behalf of Kemp following today’s plea:
“Shawn is committed to moving forward in a positive direction.
The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office presented him with an offer that allowed him to take responsibility, but also recognized the self-defense aspects of how this incident transpired. It was undisputed that Dajaun Jackson and Joshua Puente were in possession of Mr. Kemp’s stolen property while driving a stolen vehicle. Both had a significant history of crimes of dishonesty. Further, Mr. Jackson committed a drive-by shooting just four months after this incident and currently is serving a lengthy prison sentence.
The agreement allows for Mr. Kemp to ask for a sentence of no jail time based upon the actions of Mr. Jackson and Mr. Puente.
Shawn has learned a tremendous amount throughout this process. In the months and years ahead, he will continue to dedicate himself to advocating for youths in the community and also speak to the impacts of his decisions that he made in this incident."
Frank Sumrall at MyNorthwest.com contributed to the background of this story.
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