Javaris Crittenton, formerly of the Washington Wizards, has not shown up to face charges for allegedly taking the life of a 23-year-old mother of three, Jullian Jones, in Atlanta. Crittenton reportedly purchased a one-way ticket to Los Angeles late last week after learning that he was wanted for the murder and he has not been seen since. The flight was illegal in view of the charges, therefore a federal manhunt is underway. Federal agents are asking for the public’s help in tracking the award-winning athlete down.
Jones was reportedly walking with two men when she was shot during a drive- by, according to Carlos Campos, a spokesman for the Atlanta Police Department. She was struck in the hip and later died during surgery. The two men fled the scene, unharmed.
It’s unclear how Crittenton was identified as the shooter.
Details about the case are still emerging, but authorities suspect Jones wasn’t the intended target of the bullet. It’s believed it was meant for one of the two men accompanying her, whom Crittenton may have thought robbed him in the same area several months prior.
This isn’t the basketball star’s first incident involving guns.
In January of last year, Crittenton was in hot water over gunplay with his then-teamate, Gilbert Arenas. Charges were brought against both players for pulling guns on one another in the Wizards’ locker room during an argument over a gambling debt that reportedly originated on the team’s private jet.
Crittenton pleaded guilty and was given a year of probation on a misdemeanor gun possession charge stemming from this incident.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Crittenton will now be charged with homicide in Jones’ death.
