Former Laker Extradited to Georgia for Murder Charge
The Atlanta Police Department brought former Laker Javaris Crittenton from Los Angeles to Georgia Thursday to face a murder charge in the shooting death of a mother of four, police say.
Tasked with extradition, the Atlanta Police Department's Fugitive Unit brought the 23-year-old former 6-foot-5 guard and will be held at the Fulton County Jail upon arrival, according to Atlanta police. Critton, who resides in Fayetteville, Ga., has been awaiting extradition since Aug. 30.
Crittenton is facing accusations for his alleged involvement in the drive-by shooting on Aug. 19 in Georgia. Bullets hit and killed 22-year-old Julian Jones outside her home. Police said the shots were aimed at a male teen walking with her who Crittenton believed robbed him of jewelry and an iPhone. Crittenton continues to deny his involvement.
The former first round draft pick was arrested on Aug. 29 at John Wayne Airport before boarding a Delta Air Lines flight to Atlanta.
This isn't Crittenton's first run-in with the law. He pleaded guilty in Jan. 2010 on a misdemanor gun possession charge after a locker room altercation with a Washington Wizards teammate, Gilbert Arenas. NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended both Crittenton and Arenas for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Since 2010, he has been out of the NBA and received a year of probation.
In the 2007 NBA draft, the Lakers choose Crittenton in the first round, but was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 1, 2008 as part of the deal that brought Pau Gasol to the Lakers. After the Charlotte Bobcats released him during training camp of the 2010-11 season, Crittenton played five games with the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association and 21 games with the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League.
