Former UCLA standout and Sacramento King Tyler Honeycutt was killed on Friday after an incident with Los Angeles police. Honeycutt reportedly fired at police after they were called to a residence after a report of a man with a gun, and the incident resulted in Honeycutt being found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to an ESPN report, investigators were not yet sure if it was inflicted by the police or Honeycutt himself.
The Los Angeles Police Department says it responded Friday afternoon to a report of a man with a gun, and during the initial encounter, the suspect fired a shot out of a residence and officers returned fire.
Crisis negotiators were called and a SWAT team finally found an unresponsive man who was pronounced dead by paramedics.
The department, which did not identify the man, says he appears to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot.
The LAPD later tweeted clarification that Honeycutt’s gunshot was, indeed, self-inflicted.
UPDATE: Regarding last nights Officer-Involved Shooting in Van Nuys Division, it appears as if the suspect was not struck by any officer’s gunfire. The suspect appears to have sustained injuries consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 7, 2018
Honeycutt played three seasons at UCLA from 2009 to 2011 before he was taken in the second round by the Kings in the 2011 NBA Draft. He played in just 24 games over two seasons with the Kings before playing overseas.
Honeycutt was playing for a Russian basketball team, BC Khimki , which confirmed his death in a tweet on Saturday.
Tyler Honeycutt passed away…
Player's agent, mr. Aaron Mintz, confirmed the death of Honeycutt@Khimkibasket expresses its deepest condolences to Tyler's family and friends
Rest in peace, Tyler… pic.twitter.com/y0SELMlgNN
— BC Khimki (@Khimkibasket) July 7, 2018
Other NBA players, like Golden State Warrior DeMarcus Cousins, tweeted his condolences on Saturday.
RIP Tyler Honeycutt🙏🏾
Prayers up for his family and friends.
Rest easy bro!— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) July 7, 2018
Honeycutt was 27.