Ex-NBA player Crittenton faces murder charge

ATLANTA — Former NBA player Javaris Crittenton has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of a 22-year-old woman in Atlanta, police said Friday.

Crittenton, who was once suspended by the NBA in connection with guns in a locker room, is wanted in connection with the death of Jullian Jones last Friday in Atlanta, where Crittenton was a collegiate standout at Georgia Tech.

Atlanta Police spokesman Carlos Campos said a murder warrant has been issued for the arrest of Crittenton while the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper reported that Crittenton is believed to be in the Los Angeles area.

Jones was shot by someone in a dark-colored utility vehicle while walking in a group last week, police said, adding that they do not believe she was the intended target.

Campos said the motive for the shooting was related to an April robbery in which Crittenton was a victim.

Crittenton did not play last season in the NBA because of an ankle injury. He last played for the Washington Wizards in the 2009-2010 season but was involved in a locker room altercation with then-Wizard Gilbert Arenas involving guns.

The NBA suspended Crittenton for 38 games after he and Arenas admitted bringing guns into the team’s locker room, a violation of law in the US capital.

Crittenton pled guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge in January of last year and received probation from a court, but he was not re-signed by the Wizards.

Charlotte had signed Crittenton ahead of last season but he was released before the season began.

Crittenton has averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 assists in 113 NBA games in a career that began in 2007 when he was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Draft. He went to Memphis in a trade deal that brought Pau Gasol to the Lakers and was leater sent from the Grizzlies to Washington.