Teshaun
Hightower, Tulane University's star basketball player leading their team in
scoring this past year, has been charged with murder and a number of other
charges. Law enforcement officials have arrested five individuals in total,
including Hightower, in connection with the murder in Stockbridge, Georgia,
which sits just south of Atlanta. Hightower recently declared for the NBA draft,
but upon hearing of his arrest, Tulane University cut ties with him. The
victim, Devante
Anthony Long, died from gunshot wounds after he was taken to a hospital.
According to a law
enforcement source, the investigation is likely looking to convince one of the
suspects to give information on the others, which is why they decided to arrest
five of the six suspects. They said that it would be highly unlikely that the
police have footage of all six men committing the crime, but is the only other
possible reason for five of the six suspects to have been brought in.
According to reporting by The
Guardian, Averick Walker, Hightower's attorney, stated that Teshaun did not
fire the weapon but that his brother did. The attorney stated that his brother,
Jeffery Hightower, pulled the trigger and that it was in self-defense. The Guardian
went on to quote Walker as saying, "It's sad that this detective sought to make
him out to be a monster, and he's not. When it's all said and done, it will
come out in the wash that the person who did fire the gun shot the gun to
protect Teshaun."
Hightower had only played
one season at Tulane, having transferred from Georgia after two seasons.
Hightower averaged 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game this
year at Tulane.
