Former basketball star Keith Appling and his girlfriend are set to be arraigned via Zoom Thursday in Detroit's 36th District Court.
Appling faces charges on one count of first-degree murder, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of felony firearm, said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
According to police, Appling fatally shot his relative multiple times on May 22 after an argument over a handgun and fled the scene with the help of his 28-year-old girlfriend — who is facing charges on one count of accessory after the fact and one count of lying to a police officer.
“It has been clear that this man has been spiraling downward for some time," Worthy said in a news release. "Many of those that tried to intervene with this defendant were hoping that he would get on the right track and stay there."
Separately, Appling also has been charged with assault with intent to do bodily harm less than murder and felony firearm out of Jackson County for an incident reported May 2, according to Jackson County's 12th District Court records. He awaits a preliminary examination in that case.
He was previously sentenced to 18 months of probation for being found with 19 grams of heroin in his car in Warren last December and has spent a year in jail for carrying a concealed weapon and resisting and obstructing a police officer in Wayne County in 2017.
The former Michigan State basketball player spent four years at the university and was named Michigan Mr. Basketball in 2010. He was MSU's leading scorer his junior season, had a few stints in the NBA G League, spent some time with the Orlando Magic in 2016 and last played professionally in Italy in 2019.
“It is always tragic when one with so much promise, talent, and possibility is alleged to have committed the most serious of crimes,” Worthy said.
Appling was arrested in Chelsea on May 24.
