Marcus and Markieff Morris
Reuters/Phoenix
A grand jury in Arizona hasindicted Phoenix Suns players Marcus and Markieff Morris on two counts of aggravated assault relating to an incident after a basketball tournament in January, court papers showed on Tuesday.
The twin brothers are accused of “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly” causing physical injury to Erik Vernell Hood on January 24, according to the charges filed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
The players have denied the allegations by Hood, who says the 25-year-olds and three other men assaulted him as he left a basketball tournament in Phoenix.
The victim, Erik Hood, alleged that he attended a basketball tournament at the recreation center when he saw the Morris brother enter the gym with three other men, Bowman, Julius Kane and Christopher Melendez.
After the game, police say Hood was confronted by Kane and struck from behind on the head by Melendez. Hood tried to run to his car but had been dazed by the initial blow to the head and fell to the ground, where he was then repeatedly punched and kicked by all five suspects. The assault was witnessed by a 27-year-old woman, who had attended the game with Hood.
Shelburne provided a statement from the Morris twins, saying, “We have been advised by our attorneys not to discuss this case or make any statements about it. We are sorry for the distraction this has caused to our fans and the Suns.”
The team also addressed the situation in a statement, per Shelburne:
We are disappointed to learn that Marcus and Markieff Morris have been charged. This is a serious matter, and we will treat it as such. However, at this time, we think it is most appropriate to continue to monitor the legal process as it unfolds before responding further.
Hood had to be taken to the hospital following the alleged assault. The police have said that Hood was attacked after sending “an inappropriate text message” to the Morris twins’ mother, per Shelburne.
“We have been advised by our attorneys not to discuss thiscase or make any statements about it. We are sorry for the distraction this has caused to our fans and the Suns,” the Morris brothers said in a statement.
They are due to be arraigned on May 7.
The brothers’ Creative Artists Agency representative, LeonRose, said: “Markieff and Marcus are good men and I am confident that when all the facts come out, their names will be cleared.”
The Phoenix Suns President of Basketball Operations LonBabby said the team was “disappointed” to learn that the players have been charged.
“This is a serious matter, and we will treat it as such,”Babby said. “However, at this time, we think it is most appropriate tocontinue to monitor the legal process as it unfolds before responding further.”