Lorenzen Wright

[Joe Vancil]

By now, everyone has probably heard that Lorenzen Wright has been found dead.

What is annoying to me is the sketchiness of the details.  I've heard allusions to him being shot, but nowhere does it say anything definitive of HOW he died.  Is it a potential foul-play situation?  Allusion to a 911 hangup is out there, but NO DETAILS.

I'd kind of like to have some idea of what the police think happened - or at least whether it's a criminal investigation or a tragic accident or a health-related death.  So far, in the news, nothing definitive.

I'm starting to think most reporters are idiots.  How about providing a few deails, guys?

Of course, this is Memphis, so a murder wouldn't surprise me, and probably ought to be the first thing that crosses my mind.

[Joe Vancil]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/29/tennessee.nba.player/index.html?iref=allsearch

This article says that homicide detectives are investigating a death.  Nothing more than that.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38456094/sports/player_news

This article says that police are investigating a 911 hang-up call from Wright's cell phone on Monday.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/jul/29/family-friends-mourn-former-nba-player-wright-ar-170074/

This one is my favorite.  Wendy Wilson says that "He did not deserve to die this way."  WHAT FREAKIN' WAY?

He could have been shot, stabbed, beaten with baseball bats, died of a heart attack when he accidently discovered Elvis still alive, been kidnapped by aliens, or died of depression - several of which are not all that uncommon for Memphis.


The press are idiots.  They can report tons of stuff that they're not sure about, but can't get details in a situation like this, with people making statements like those of Wendy Wilson?

[westkoast]

I read that his body was found filled with bullet holes and they kept mentioning he was having financial trouble.  I don't want to say for sure it was over money but it seems very possible.

Either way, very sad.

[jn]

Last night I heard that the police were not made aware of the 911 call until long after the incident.  Maybe I misunderstood but it sounds like the 911 people didn't tell the police that they got a phone call that include a number of gunshots.   Seems like they would have to at least tell the police so they could file a report.   I mean, the police here encouraged me to report the theft of a $200 bike even though there's a one in billion chance of getting it back.   

[Joe Vancil]

<sarcasm>

Well you knew for sure that a crime was committed.  Obviously, the 911 operator didn't know for sure that there was a crime being committed when he got an emergency call, heard an expletive and multiple gunshots, and could reach anyone when he called back.

So, for any of you folks out there in a similar situation, just remember - don't call 911.  CALL ME.  I'm smart enough to alert the police when I hear gunshots.  Don't chance it with a 911 operator. 

This applies ESPECIALLY if you're in Memphis.  I'll understand that you're in a dire situation from the start.  When your city's basketball hero is ZACH RANDOLPH, it kind of sums up the character of the whole city....

</sarcasm>

(If anyone from Memphis is reading this, please don't kill me too.)

[westkoast]

Wow so according to his ex-wife he left go sell 110k in cocaine to someone.  Don't want to assume here but sounds like a botched drug dealer in which he got robbed/shot and they took the drugs without paying.