Sacked basketball player is US murder suspect
Getty ImagesA Scottish basketball club signed and then sacked a player who is linked to a murder in the US.
Caledonia Gladiators said it was unaware that Malik Dunbar, who joined last month, was the suspect in the shooting of Arthur Braxton in Augusta, Georgia.
Dunbar, 28, and teammate Jared Wilson-Frame have both had their contracts terminated by the super league team.
Caledonia Gladiators said this was due to a disciplinary matter unrelated to the investigation into the 4 October murder.
Arthur Braxton, 32, was found dead outside Mexican restaurant El Presidente, with multiple gunshot wounds.
Local media in Augusta reported that Dunbar was the suspect in the case.
Getty ImagesCaledonia Gladiators said the contracts of Dunbar and Frame, who also signed last month, had been terminated “with immediate effect based on a “serious breach of club discipline”.
BBC Scotland News understands this is not connected to any sort of violence.
The club, based in East Kilbride, plays in Super League Basketball – the top tier of basketball in the UK.
It said in a statement: “Following this breach, we have since been made aware of serious allegations circulating on a separate matter in relation to Malik Dunbar in the US and prior to his arrival with the club.
“We work with reputable sports agencies who supply players to clubs across the world and no allegations were disclosed as part of our due diligence process.”
It said an internal review had been launched into the signing process.
Getty ImagesSports agency Interperformances, which represented Dunbar, said they had not been made aware of his links to the shooting and learned about the matter through media reports.
US media reports also stated that Dunbar was also arrested in August and charged by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office with possessing a firearm or knife, and with possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute.
The small forward and shooting guard had enjoyed a successful college career with the Auburn Tigers.
He helped Auburn University to the famous “final four” of the yearly college basketball tournament in 2019 before playing overseas in Germany and Egypt, as well as in the NBA’s minor league, the G League.