Tragedy struck Wednesday night as the father of former Cleveland Cavalier and 2016 NBA champion Richard Jefferson, Richard Jefferson Sr., was shot and killed in an apparent drive-by shooting in Los Angeles.
According to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department statement, the 65-year-old Inglewood resident was standing in front of a liquor store around 7 p.m. when a dark-colored car filled with several men pulled up and began to open fire.
Jefferson Sr. was struck multiple times in the torso. He was transported to a nearby hospital, and sadly he was later pronounced dead.
His son, who was in the NBA for 17 years, played for the Denver Nuggets last season, and in 2016 won his first NBA championship with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
ESPN reports that Jefferson became closer with his father over the last few years, despite growing up as a child solely with his mother in Glendale, Arizona after his parents split.
While the investigation is still ongoing, a motive has yet to be determined.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jefferson and his family.
