Subscribe
Follow Us
Tulane guard and 2020 NBA Draft prospect Teshaun Hightower has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, battery and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony in connection with a homicide.
According to a report from NBC Sports, Hightower is alleged to have been involved in a murder that occurred on April 8 in Stockbridge, Georgia, which is an Atlanta suburb. At this point, Hightower is without a listed bond, and he's being held at Henry County Jail. NBC Sports reports that he was due in court on Sunday morning.
According to a Henry County police report, officers responded to a call about a person that had been shot around 11 a.m. that morning. The victim, Devante Anthony Long, died of his injuries at the hospital. Five of the six people determined by investigators to be involved in the shooting have been arrested, including Hightower, who was taken into custody at 9:50 p.m. on Saturday night, April 25th.
After two seasons, Hightower transferred from the University of Georgia to Tulane, where he led the Green Wave in scoring with 15.9 points per game. The 6-foot-5 junior announced that he would be entering the 2020 NBA Draft earlier this month.
Hightower's attorney, Averick Walker, claims that it was an act of self-defense:
Article Continues Below
“He’s innocent. He didn’t shoot anybody,” Walker said of Hightower, via theguardian.com. “It’s sad that this detective sought to make him out to be a monster and he’s not. When it’s all said and done, it will come out in the wash that the person who did fire the gun shot the gun to protect Teshaun.
“Teshaun’s brother actually fired the weapon and fired in self-defense. The victim came out of the house with a gun in his hand and turned his weapon toward Teshaun to shoot him. That’s why the victim was shot himself.”
On the day of the shooting, Teshaun Hightower posted this tweet:
God protect my people 🙏🏾
— T5ivee (@TeshaunTh) April 8, 2020
For now, we'll have to wait for an official ruling in this case.
