FILE – Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers stands for the national anthem before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on March 02, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP
The sister of NBA star Kawhi Leonard is one of two women sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of an elderly woman in a Southern California casino in 2019.
Kimesha Williams, the older sister of Leonard, and Candace Townsell were convicted in February for the murder of 84-year-old Afaf Assad in a bathroom at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. Sentencing for the first-degree murder convictions was handed down Friday.
According to reports, Williams and Townsell went to the casino on Aug. 31, 2019, and Assad and her husband entered with a purse containing approximately $1,000 for gambling.
When Assad went into a bathroom, Williams allegedly followed her and Townsell stayed outside to be the lookout.
A short time later, a woman in another stall heard a loud thud. Williams and Townsell were seen fleeing to the exit.
Assad was found bleeding on the floor. She had a fractured skull and died four days later.
Williams denied killing Assad in a statement read by her attorney at the sentencing hearing.
Kawhi Leonard grew up in the Riverside area and developed into a college star at San Diego State before becoming one of the NBA’s top players. He is a two-time NBA Finals MVP and has won NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. He now plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard’s father, Mark, was a murder victim in 2008.