NBA Player Lonny Baxter Arrested Near White House

An NBA player was arrested overnight for firing gunshots near the White House.

Lonny Baxter, a forward on the NBA Charlotte Bobcats and a former University of Maryland standout, was arrested on weapons charges early this morning by uniformed Secret Service agents after they received reports of shots being fired a few blocks from the White House. Secret Service Spokesman Eric Zahren said that a civilian flagged down an officer about 2.30 a.m. to report the sound of gunfire in the vicinity of 18th and H Streets, NW. A few minutes later, officers pulled over an SUV at 17th and I Streets, NW and found in plain view spent shell casings.

It’ll be interesting to learn the story behind this. While 18th and H is indeed quite close to the White House, it’s even closer to the IMF and World Bank.

DC Map White House to 19th Street NW

Now, anti-trade protestors often target these buildings, especially during international conferences. Sometimes, for reasons I’ve never figured out, they wear turtle suits. Baxter is a former Maryland Terrapin. Their mascot? A turtle. Their motto? “Fear the turtle.”

Turtle Protest WTO PhotoFear the Turtle

Could there be a connection?

Well, almost certainly not. Still, if it turns out that Baxter is an anti-trade zealot, you read it here first.

OTB Sports

FILED UNDER: Guns and Gun Control, Uncategorized, , , , , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. James says:

    I figure the only way an NBA player is an anti-trade zealot is being against getting traded to the Knicks or some other team that similarly stinks.

  2. Mark says:

    Fear the Baxter!

  3. Trest says:

    was arrested on weapons charges early this morning by uniformed Secret Service agents

    I thought that the Secret Service are wear civilian clothes, i.e. suits. What is the “uniform”?

  4. Trest says:

    NBA Player Lonny Baxter Arrested Near White House

    Also, Baxter isn’t an NBA player. He once played in the league, but he is currently under contract with the Italian team, Montepaschi Siena.

  5. Trest,

    Take a tour of the white house and you will see plenty of uniformed secret service. They man the guard booths and the like. As near as I can tell, the average T-man (or woman) going into the secret service detail spends a period of time as a uniformed guard before getting to lose the uniform for a suit.

  6. Trest says:

    They man the guard booths and the like. As near as I can tell, the average T-man (or woman) going into the secret service detail spends a period of time as a uniformed guard before getting to lose the uniform for a suit.

    Oh! I always thought those dudes with the White shirts were rent-a-cops like you see at Target. The suits are MUCH cooler. Although I bet those guys had to hold their tongue when they had to “protect” Slick Willie as I am sure he thought he could get all of his floozies through the back door!