Colorado Police Close Ja Morant Probe Due to Lack of Evidence
The Grizzlies guard appeared to flash a gun in an Instagram Live video posted Saturday morning.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will not face criminal charges related to his apparent displaying of a gun in a nightclub on Instagram Live video Saturday morning, according to a Wednesday afternoon release from police in Glendale, Colo.
“Although the video was concerning enough to prompt an investigation, there was not enough available evidence to charge anyone with a crime,” police said.
Police named Shotgun Willies, a nightclub in Glendale, as the location where the video Morant posted was filmed, and they noted the department “did not receive any calls for services at the nightclub regarding a weapon of any type.”
Though police have dropped any further investigation into Morant’s actions, the 23-year-old’s social media activity remains the focus of an NBA probe.
Memphis has suspended Morant at least two games for the incident, which followed a Wednesday report from The Washington Post alleging that he punched a 17-year-old and threatened him with a gun during an incident last summer. Morant took to Instagram Live hours after the Grizzlies’ 113–97 loss to the Nuggets on Friday night and earned immediate, widespread condemnation for appearing to flash a gun during the video.
The two-time All-Star since has apologized for the video and said in a statement that he is taking some time away from the team to seek help.
Memphis has lost both of its games without Morant so far, falling 135–129 to the Clippers on Sunday and 112–103 to the Lakers on Tuesday.