Marcus and Markieff Morris, a.k.a. Phoenix Suns’ Morris twins are facing a hefty lawsuit now that the man who accused them of pummeling him into hospital care is pressing charges.
Reports ESPN:
The Morris twins are among five men charged in the alleged assault of a 36-year-old man at the Nina Mason Pulliam Recreation Center. Another of the men, Gerald Bowman, was a safety at USC who is preparing for this year’s NFL draft. Their first court appearance is scheduled for May 7.
“We have been advised by our attorneys not to discuss this case or make any statements about it. We are sorry for the distraction this has caused to our fans and the Suns,” Marcus and Markieff Morris said in a statement.
Their agent, Leon Rose, said he was confident his clients would be cleared.
The victim, Erik Hood, alleged that he attended a basketball tournament at the recreation center when he saw the Morris brothers enter the gym with three other men: Bowman, Julius Kane and Christopher Melendez.
After the game, police say Hood was confronted by Kane and struck from behind on the head by Melendez. Hood tried to run to his car but had been dazed by the initial blow to the head and fell to the ground, where he was then repeatedly punched and kicked by all five suspects. The assault was witnessed by a 27-year-old woman who had attended the game with Hood.
Hood was taken to the emergency room at Phoenix Baptist Hospital, where he was treated for a broken nose, bruises and abrasions.
Hood told detectives that he has known the Morris brothers since they were in high school and that he mentored the brothers through college. The Morris twins denied to police that they were involved in the assault and that they knew Hood.
Although the Suns missed the playoffs this year, as Ramona Shelburne points on Marcus and Markieff stand to make $32 million and $20 million, respectively with their new contract extensions.
The unfolded truth should prove interesting in court.
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Photo: SB Nation
