Former Memphis Grizzlies point guard Antonio Burks finally served justice: NBA Update
The former point guard of the Memphis Grizzlies, Antonio Burks, who was shot by a robber during a theft on July 20, 2009, has finally awarded justice. Burks, who was injured pretty badly in the incident, had been seeking retribution
for more than two years.
The court has sentenced Darquan Swift, the man who shot Burks and another man to 97 years of prison. The verdict was handed out yesterday. Swift was adjourned guilty by the jury at the start of this summer for committing a murder
attempt and several robberies.
Swift, who was released on probation just a month before shooting Bucks, will be eligible for parole after serving 51 years of his prison. In the incident, Swift shot Burks in the chest as he was trying to steal a dice game at
an unoccupied house on LaClede in South Memphis. Burks got injured critically in that episode and had to go through a number of surgeries.
Burks also testified against Swift in the trial, during which he described the incident as: "Two guys came from the left side of the building with guns out telling everybody to get down."
Burks also told the jury that the gunman shot him almost without giving any warning before. He said, "He was standing over me with the gun still trying to pull the trigger, but the gun was jammed."
Besides, Burks other eye witnesses also testified against Swift. One of the witness Alicia McIntyre told the jury, "While I was in my room on the phone, I heard two gunshots. As I ran outside, I saw three dudes run towards a blue
and turquoise Equinox."
Burks told that after he got hit, he called his brother, as he was not sure that whether or not he would survive this wound. He said, "Just to let him know that if I didn't make it, to tell my family I love them, I lived a good life, and don't cry at my funeral."
A grieved Burks also told the jury about all the pain he suffered because of that unlawful act. This unfortunate incident had changed the life of an upcoming talent in the National Basketball Association, who had just started his
pro career.
He told the jury, "I go from making $400,000 a year to making $25,000 a year. It was all taken away by a guy, who wanted to be tough for no reason, don't know nothing about me, that shot me for no reason."
A six foot and 185 pounder, Burks declared himself for the 2004 NBA Draft, after guiding the Tigers to win the National Invitation Tournament back in 2002. Utah Jazz picked him up as a second round selection, but later they traded him to his hometown team Grizzlies.
Burks spent two seasons (2004-05 and 2005-06) with the Grizzlies, played 81 games in total and scored with an average of 2.3 points per game. Before he was waived off by the Grizzlies, after which Burks joined a Bulgarian team
named Lukoil Academic.
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