Tacoma, Wash. Former Seattle SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp was sentenced Friday to 30 days of electronic home monitoring and one year of community custody in connection with a 2023 shooting at Tacoma Mall. As part of the sentence, Kemp must perform 20 hours of community service each month during the year of his community custody, largely focused in the Tacoma and Pierce County area.
Kemp pleaded guilty in May to one count of second-degree assault, having previously faced a charge of first-degree assault. The sentencing was open, allowing both prosecutors and Kemp’s defense to present recommendations.
Prosecutors had argued for a nine-month sentence with up to 12 months of community custody. Kemp and several supporters testified about how the incident has altered his life, and Kemp took responsibility for his actions during the proceeding.
The judge granted an exceptional sentence below the standard sentencing range, which typically runs three to nine months. Two statutory factors cited by the judge as potentially applicable to why the lower term was justified were that the victim may have provoked the incident and that Kemp acted under a sense of compulsion or fear.
The judge noted that one of the men in the car targeted by Kemp later fired upon a man at a Renton gas station a few weeks afterward, apparently in an attempt to retaliate for the shooting Kemp was involved in. The judge said a jury would have considered that sequence of events, noting Kemp’s claim that he feared those involved.
Details of the incident show Kemp fired at people in an SUV in the mall parking lot on March 8, 2023. Surveillance footage presented in court depicted Kemp raising his arm toward the SUV multiple times. Prosecutors contended four shots can be accounted for, with three hitting the SUV and a fourth striking a nearby vehicle. A live round was later found on the ground.
Kemp told police that he had tracked a stolen phone to the SUV and fired only after a shot was fired at him during a confrontation with those inside the vehicle. Prosecutors also said police found additional ammunition in an empty Crown Royal bag in Kemp’s pocket, and investigators noted a pre-arrival message Kemp sent that read, “I’m about to shoot this [expletive].”
Before issuing the sentence, Kemp spoke to the court, saying the incident had “changed every aspect” of his life and that he plans to dedicate himself to being an advocate against gun violence for youth. He expressed remorse and accepted responsibility for his actions.
Kemp’s defense called several witnesses to support him, including his wife, Marvena, who described the years since the shooting as “tough” and said her husband is remorseful. Kemp’s longtime attorney, William Scott Boatman, emphasized that Kemp is not a violent person, noting his roles as a husband and father of 25 years and his lack of prior criminal history.
A former NBA star who spent eight seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997 and retired in 2003, Kemp’s case has drawn attention in both sports and local communities as discussions continue about gun violence and accountability.
Summary: Kemp accepted responsibility, received an exceptional sentence below the standard range, and committed to ongoing anti-violence advocacy while fulfilling community-service obligations.
Additional context: The sentence reflects a balance between accountability and perceived threats that prosecutors highlighted, with the judge recognizing complex factors that influenced the decision. The outcome may serve as a reference point in discussions about sentencing in cases involving gun violence where incidents unfold under tense circumstances.
Potential broader impact: Kemp’s commitment to youth outreach and gun-violence prevention may contribute positively to the community’s efforts to address violence and support reconciliation after high-profile incidents.