Police in Orlando, Fla., are investigating a shooting incident that took place early yesterday morning at the home of Washington Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson.
Stevenson was unharmed after a gunman fired shots that hit his car and the car of a friend following a late-night visit to an Orlando nightclub, according to police reports. A man identified as Curtis Ruff was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg stemming from the episode.
“We are aware of the incident,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. “We have spoken with DeShawn, and he is fine and was not harmed. We will monitor the situation as this is a continuing investigation being conducted by the authorities in Orlando.”
Police said the incident occurred after Stevenson and former high school teammate Richard Millsap, former Orlando Magic teammate Brandon Hunter and a woman identified as Jennifer Calderon left the Destiny nightclub shortly before 4 a.m. The group stopped at a gas station, met several women and invited them back to Stevenson’s house.
Unknowingly, a man driving a white Cadillac Escalade also followed the group into Stevenson’s gated community, according to police. The man began arguing with one of the women, then retrieved a handgun from inside his vehicle. He fired at Millsap and Hunter, with bullets hitting the rear windshield and a window on Stevenson’s Lexus.
Bullets also struck a window on Hunter’s BMW and an outside wall of Stevenson’s house, and police found at least one bullet on the driveway across the street.
Police described the suspected gunman as a black male between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-3 wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.
Ruff was hospitalized with a bullet wound to at least one leg but has refused to offer details of the incident. A security guard at the entrance to Stevenson’s community told police she saw him enter shortly before the shooting took place and leave immediately afterward driving a silver Cadillac SUV. A criminal profile for Ruff, 31, showed he has been arrested 44 times, mostly for possession and distribution of cocaine.
Stevenson told police he was inside and asleep during the incident. He, Millsap, Hunter and Calderon all declined to press charges. Only Hunter agreed to provide a sworn statement to police.
Stevenson, 26, joined the Wizards in 2006 after 2½ years with the Orlando Magic and 3½ with the Utah Jazz. He started all 82 games last season, averaging 11.2 points and 2.6 rebounds. He signed a new four-year, $15 million contract with the team last month.
In 2002, Stevenson pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of statutory rape in a case involving a 14-year-old girl. He was sentenced to probation and community service.
A call to Stevenson’s agent was not returned.
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