Lonny Baxter was arrested close to the White House yesterday carrying a Glock handgun.
Secret Service agents arrested former Terrapin basketball star Lonny Baxter yesterday two blocks from the White House after hearing gunshots and receiving reports that the gunfire came from a white SUV.
According to court documents, police spotted a white Range Rover driven by Baxter and found spent shell casings on the rear floorboard of the vehicle during a traffic stop. After searching the vehicle, officers found a .40-caliber Glock pistol in the center console. Police also said they found ammunition closely matching the gun’s about a block away.
Baxter, 27, and a man identified in court documents as Francis Martin, 35, of Hyattsville, are being held on charges of carrying a concealed weapon without a license until a preliminary hearing on Friday morning, D.C. Superior Court spokesman Monty Wilkinson said.
Court documents indicate Baxter, who helped lead the Terps to their first national title in 2002, may have been partying in Washington last night. He was carrying two receipts from popular Washington nightclub Eyebar, both with time stamps for 12:52 a.m. and 1:39 a.m. yesterday; the incident occurred at about 2:31 a.m., according to court documents.
It remains unclear why Baxter or Martin allegedly fired the weapon, Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren told the Associated Press yesterday, though he said additional charges would be filed should any other information come to light.
After Baxter finished out his year playing center for the Terps and had his jersey number retired along with teammate Juan Dixon, he was selected as a second-round draft pick by the Chicago Bulls. He had a rocky career in the NBA, however, playing for four teams in four years, including a stint with the Washington Wizards, and was recently traded mid-season to the Charlotte Bobcats.
Bobcats spokesman Scott Leightman told the AP yesterday that Baxter’s “contract ran out, and we opted not to resign him.” The Bobcats refused further comment to The Diamondback because Baxter is no longer a player on the team.
Baxter, now a Rockville resident, signed a one-year contract with Italian team Montepaschi Siena on Aug. 7.
During the Terps’ 2001-02 national championship season, Baxter averaged 15.2 points, second only to Juan Dixon. Baxter led the team in rebounding, averaging 8.2 per game.
His success in college did not translate over to the NBA, however. Baxter averaged just less than four points per game in his NBA career and played an average of 11.6 minutes per game.
The Terps’ Athletics Department declined to comment on the situation.
Sports editor Andrew Zuckerman contributed to this story. Contact reporter Kevin Litten at littendbk@gmail.com.
