Ex-NBA player Javaris Crittenton indicted on murder charges

Javaris Crittenton (196 cm, Georgia Tech’07) has been indicted on murder charges. He is accused of killing an Atlanta mother as an act of vengeance against a rival gang member.

Police say Crittenton joined a Los Angeles gang after being a first round draft pick of the NBA Lakers in 2007 (19th pick) and was indicted yesterday on murder charges, accused of killing an Atlanta mother of four while trying to strike retribution at a rival gang member.

Javaris Crittenton, 29, was named in a 12-count Fulton county grand jury indictment that includes charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, giving false statements, and participation in criminal street gang activity.

Crittenton is accused, along with his cousin Douglas Gamble, of killing Julian Jones in an Aug. 19, 2011, drive-by shooting as she walked on an Atlanta street. Jones, prosecutors said, was an unintended target who was hit by a bullet meant for the person she was with.

In two separate incidents in August of 2011, prosecutors said Crittenton shot at people, seeking retribution at a rival gang member who robbed him earlier in the year. Crittenton was allegedly armed with a high-powered rifle the night Julian Jones, 23, was shot.

After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007, Javaris Crittenton played for Memphis and Washington in the NBA before moving to China (Zhejiang Guangsha Lions) for the 2010/2011 season. He didn’t stay in China for very long and had a FIBA arbitration dispute with his former team in which the Chinese were ordered to pay Crittenton $ 185.000 for breach of contract..