TACOMA, Wash. - Pierce County prosecutors charged former Seattle SuperSonic Shawn Kemp with first-degree assault after exchanging gunfire last month in the Tacoma Mall parking lot.At the time, the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said it was not filing charges for the March 8 incident.According to charging documents, Kemp told Tacoma police he was shot at first, but detectives say that does not line up with video from witnesses.
That video allegedly shows Kemp getting out of his car, grabbing a bag from his trunk and firing the gun.Detectives said Kemp was standing where a round of ammunition was found on the ground, and during a search of his car a gun was located.Previously, Kemp's attorney told FOX 13 he fired a gun in self-defense after he tracked his stolen cell phone to the Tacoma Mall.
He called Kemp's actions reasonable."Individuals inside the vehicle shot at Mr. Kemp, who then returned fire in self-defense," Kemp's attorney Scott Boatman told FOX 13 last month. "There was not a drive-by shooting as previously reported, and Mr.
Kemp’s actions were reasonable and legally justified."According to court documents, Kemp allowed police to search his phone.