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playa2
Posts: 34922
Alba Posts: 15
Joined: 5/15/2003
Member: #407
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Jamaal Tinsley and friends were shot at with an assault rifle by unknown persons early Sunday morning. Fortunately, Tinsley was not injured, but team equipment manager Joey Qatato was hit in both elbows. The incident occurred following a verbal altercation outside the Cloud 9 club.
The player and posse say that they were followed from the club by a car and a pickup so they drove to the Conrad Hotel, where the shooting took place. James Tinsley, Jamaal's brother, chased the shooters and fired several shots from his licensed gun. It is not known if any of the shooters were hit by Tinsley's return fire.
Pacer's night out ends in shooting
Tinsley, friends were followed from nightclub; coach says guard put himself in bad situation
By Mike Wells and Francesca Jarosz
mike.wells@indystar.com
December 10, 2007
Indiana Pacers team leaders Sunday publicly admonished Jamaal Tinsley for being out at a time and place that put him in harm's way -- in the sights of someone wielding an assault rifle -- and said it's time for professional athletes to make "smarter" decisions.
Someone in a group of people fired on cars carrying Tinsely and his friends outside the Conrad Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis early Sunday. Pacers equipment manager Joey Qatato was shot in both elbows.
Two of Tinsley's three vehicles were pocked with bullet holes and his brother, James Tinsley, apparently returned fire with a gun he carried legally.
It wasn't known whether anyone in the other group was injured, and Pacers officials said they were grateful no one was hurt worse or killed.
No one was arrested in connection with the shootings, but a man with Tinsley was taken into custody on an outstanding out-of-state warrant.
Sunday's incident is the third club-related episode to involve Tinsley in a little more than a year and comes on the heels of other violent incidents involving sports figures nationally.
Coach Jim O'Brien, Pacers President Larry Bird and player and team leader Jermaine O'Neal responded to the incident later Sunday.
O'Brien characterized Tinsley as a "victim (who) wasn't out there causing problems," but said Tinsley should not have been in that situation at 3 a.m.
"But that's a decision that was made, and it was the wrong decision to make," O'Brien said. "I would think as we all suspect, nothing good happens after 1 o'clock if you're around alcohol or around an environment where there could be weapons."
Tinsley was excused from practice Sunday but is expected to attend practice today. The Pacers play at Cleveland on Tuesday.
Sgt. Paul Thompson, a spokesman for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, said the incident began at the nightclub Cloud 9, 5150 W. 38th St.
Members of Tinsley's group said people in another group harassed them about Tinsley's expensive cars -- a Mercedes, Rolls-Royce and Dodge Charger -- and the amount of money he made.
Tinsley's group left the club and headed for Tinsley's Downtown condominium but soon realized they were being followed by a gray Chrysler and a dark pickup truck, Thompson said. They pulled into the Conrad Hotel because they thought it would be safer, he said.
The shooting began about 3:40 a.m., after both groups reached the hotel, Thompson said. After Qatato was shot, he went inside, where Conrad employees called emergency medical services and police.
Qatato had been sitting with Tinsley in the player's Rolls-Royce. A Methodist Hospital spokesperson said Qatato was released Sunday afternoon after being treated. Tinsley, in the front passenger seat, was not injured.
Two of the three vehicles in Tinsley's group followed the shooters to Monument Circle, and James Tinsley returned fire. It was not known whether anyone was hit. James Tinsley had a gun permit, Thompson said.
Jamaal Tinsley was not involved in the chase, Thompson said.
No Conrad employees witnessed the shooting, but a few were on duty inside the lobby when it occurred. Those who assisted Qatato were not allowed to comment due to hotel policy.
At least three bullets struck Tinsley's Rolls-Royce, including one in the windshield and two in the driver's door window. The Charger had five bullet holes, Thompson said.
The suspected weapon is a .223 assault rifle, Thomas said, adding police had no suspects, and investigators continue to look for the two vehicles driven by those who shot at Tinsley's group.
Police arrested Antoine Toon, 31, a member of the Tinsley group who was wanted on an unrelated Georgia warrant for dealing a controlled substance.
Thompson said it's too soon to know if others in Tinsley's group will face charges.
Bird, already trying to clean up his team's image tarnished by a series of controversies, said the team is gathering information about the incident.
But he said Tinsley will be "punished" if it turns out he's at fault. O'Brien said there's no curfew for players and the team has no intention of enforcing one.
"With Jamaal, it's just 'Why are you out at 3:30 in a place like that?' I don't really have a problem with guys being out till 3:30, but you've got to know your surroundings," Bird said. "Obviously, it's time for these guys to take a look at everything that's happened throughout our league, throughout professional sports, and step back and take a hard look at it and make smarter decisions."
Jermaine O'Neal said Sunday's incident was another warning to athletes that they can become targets.
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Instead of a "drive-by", I guess this was a "drive-to".
JAMES DOLAN on Isiah : He's a good friend of mine and of the organization and I will continue to solicit his views. He will always have strong ties to me and the team.
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12/10/2007 5:38 PM
