NBA’s Baxter arrested for shots near White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Charlotte Bobcats basketball player
Lonny Baxter was arrested early on 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. (0630 GMT) 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 (2.2m) and 260 pounds (118 kg), 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.