A college basketball star, who had declared for the NBA draft this month, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and other crimes in Georgia, jail records show.
What We Know:
- 22-year-old Teshaun Hightower, a guard for Tulane University in New Orleans, was taken into custody in Henry County, Georgia, on Saturday night.
- On Friday, police in Henry County released photos of six suspects alleged to have been involved in a murder and aggravated assault in Stockbridge, south of Atlanta, on April 8.
- Five of the six suspects are in custody, including Hightower’s brother, The Associated Press reported. An arrest warrant obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution accused Hightower of opening fire on a man who had pistol-whipped another suspect, Tyreek Farmer, earlier in the day.
- Hightower’s lawyer, Averick Walker, told ESPN that the basketball player’s brother fired the gun 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,” Walker said. “That’s why the victim was shot himself.”
- In addition to the murder charge, Hightower also faces charges of aggravated assault, battery and possession of a firearm. He is being held without bond.
Hightower led the Green Wave in scoring during the 2019-20 season, announced on Twitter on April 18 that he was entering his name into the NBA draft but as of late, Tulane University Athletic Director Troy Dannen said he has been “immediately dismissed” from the basketball program.
