Ex-Tiger Burks shot while watching dice game in South MemphisBy Hank Dudding (Contact), Memphis Commercial AppealOriginally published 09:52 a.m., July 21, 2009Updated 10:17 a.m., July 21, 2009
Former Memphis Tiger and Grizzly Antonio Burks was shot as he watched six men gamble with dice in the backyard of a home in South Memphis, according to police.Three armed robbers came around both sides of the house at 353 Laclede just before 6 p.m. Monday and began firing immediately, a victim told police.
The robbers, who arrived in a purple or blue GMC Equinox or Envoy and weren’t wearing masks, forced the victims to the ground and robbed them of money and their clothes.
One victim, identified by police as Vincent Williams, 44, was shot in the stomach and robbed of $300.
Police said a 44-year-old man was in critical condition at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis this morning.
A suspect fired a shot at Daniel Chatman, 27, when he couldn’t get out of his pants quickly enough, according to police.
The shot missed.
Robbers took $3,200 from Chatman, according to police.
Burks, 29, was shot in the stomach, then ran to the front of the house and flagged down Good Samaritan Anthony Jefferson, 40, who drove him to The Med.
He underwent surgery Monday evening, but was returned to the operating room at around 10 p.m. because of internal bleeding, police said.
Burks was in critical condition this morning.
Others involved in the dice game were identified by police as Kevion Hardaway, 28; Tamingo Williams, 35; Christopher Burks, 28; and Clyde Wade, 26.
Wade also played basketball for the University of Memphis.
Police had no one in custody.
Burks, a Booker T. Washington High graduate, played for Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn., before joining the Tigers for the 2001-02 season.
As a senior in 2003-2004, he led Memphis to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 16 points and 5.5 assists and was named Conference USA Player of the Year.
Burks was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft. Over two seasons with the Grizzlies, he played in 81 games, averaging 2.3 points, 1.3 assists and 9.7 minutes.
After the Grizzlies released him, Burks signed a one-year nonguaranteed contract with the Miami Heat, but that team released him as well.
He played for professional basketball teams in Bulgaria and Poland during the 2008-2009 season.
-- Staff reporter Jody Callahan contributed to this story.
Story published in Commercial Appeal
*****UPDATE******
Burks, 29, and another man were shot Monday evening during an armed robbery in South Memphis.
Burks’ brother, Chris, said today his brother was headed for more surgery this afternoon to “close the wounds up.”
“They’re saying everything looks good,” said Chris Burks, who said his brother has been conscious, but heavily sedated.
The other man wounded in the incident, Vincent Williams, 44, has been released from the hospital, said a spokeswoman for The Med.
Police said today there had been no new developments in the case.
