Charlotte Bobcats basketball player Lonny Baxter was arrested Wednesday
after a witness reported gunfire near the White House, a Secret Service
spokesman said.
A witness flagged down a Secret Service officer about 2:30
a.m. and reported shots fired about five blocks from the White House, Secret
Service spokesman Eric Zahren told Reuters. The witness also reported
seeing a white SUV in the area, said Zahren.
The officer stopped Baxter’s SUV and saw “in plain view a number of
spent shell cartridges,” said Zahren. Baxter, 27, was
arrested along with his passenger, Irvin Martin, 35, said Zahren.
Baxter, 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds is a four-year veteran of the NBA and
currently plays for the Charlotte Bobcats. He has averaged just over
four points during his pro career.
Both men are charged with carrying a pistol without a license and having an
unregistered firearm and unregistered ammunition, he said.
Zahren did not immediately know why the shots were fired, or if the
two men remained in custody.
