Former Seattle Supersonics player Shawn Kemp was booked into Pierce County Jail on investigation of a drive-by shooting but was released after 24 hours due to the Pierce County prosecutors’ decision not to file charges yet. Kemp’s personal attorneys claim he fired in self-defense.
On Wednesday, Tacoma police responded to a report of gunfire in a parking lot near the Tacoma Mall. Officers determined that an altercation occurred between people in two vehicles, and one of the drivers fired several rounds at people in the other vehicle, which left the scene.
Officers later arrested a 53-year-old man who police confirmed as Kemp. The police also recovered a firearm. According to Kemp’s attorney, W. Scott Boatman, Kemp’s vehicle had been broken into, and he tracked his stolen iPhone to an occupied vehicle in the parking lot.
“When Mr. Kemp approached the vehicle in an attempt to retrieve his stolen property, individuals inside the vehicle shot at Mr. Kemp, who then returned fire in self-defense,” Boatman said. via Seattle Times.
He also emphasized that there was no drive-by shooting as previously reported and that Kemp’s actions were reasonable and legally justified.
The recent incident involving former Seattle Sonics star Shawn Kemp and a shooting near the Tacoma Mall has sparked discussions about self-defense and the dangers of attempting to retrieve stolen property. While the investigation is ongoing, Kemp’s attorneys have stated that he fired in self-defense and no injuries were reported.
From the information available, it appears that Kemp may have been a victim of a crime himself, with his vehicle being broken into and his iPhone stolen. It is understandable that he would want to retrieve his property, but it is important to remember that attempting to do so can be dangerous. You never know what kind of situation you might be walking into, and it’s always better to call the police and let them handle it. Is it worth getting shot over an iPhone?
That being said, if Kemp truly acted in self-defense, then he was well within his rights to do so. The right to self-defense is a fundamental one, and it’s important that individuals are able to protect themselves in situations where their life is threatened.
Overall, this incident serves as a reminder that retrieving stolen property can be dangerous, and it’s always better to err on the side of caution and let the authorities handle it. At the same time, if someone is truly acting in self-defense, then they have the right to protect themselves. It’s up to the investigation to determine which was the case in this particular situation.
Image created using photo by Bryan Horowitz via Flickr
Sean Holt said, “(It is)-(sic) worth getting shot over an iPhone?” I think he meant “Is it worth….”.
It’s not just the physical phone that is the issue. Losing a cellphone is different than it used to be. It can now also be the potentially massive amount of personal data within the phone. This may include ALL contact information, home address, even access codes to one’s entire financial portfolio, and much more. Depending on the person, the phone may not be setup with a password or a strong password, thus putting the person’s entire personal and financial security at significant risk. (Hint: wake up call to everyone to properly secure their phone’s information content)
Those data may be worth trying to protect in real time as a criminal with access to such information could quite easily ruin one’s entire life…or endanger one’s family’s personal and financial safety. The risks can be higher for some celebrities.