Arrest made in robbery, shooting of Knicks' Cleanthony Early
NEW YORK --A man is facing federal charges in connection withthe Dec. 30, 2015, robbery and shooting of New York Knicks reserve forward Cleanthony Early, according to a complaint filed in a Brooklyn federal court on Saturday.
Delvon Dowling allegedly told federal agents that he was part of a group that drove to the CityScapes Gentlemen's Club in Queens in Queens, New York, on Dec. 30, with the intention of robbing someone. Dowling said the group waited in three cars until Early, who is not named in the complaint, left the club.
Their vehicles headed off Early's Uber, surrounding it, and several armed assailants got out and demanded the 24-year-old Bronx native exit the car.
Early was commanded to turn over personal property, according to an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Joint Robbery Task Force. One of the suspects then shot Early in the right kneecap.
Early survived the 4:30 a.m. confrontation and two months later was cleared to rejoin the Knicks.
Dowling, who is nicknamed "Bam Bam," according to the complaint, allegedly left with two cell phones, which he sold for $40. Two chains that were also stolen from Early that night were not mentioned in the complaint.
Dowling was arrested at his home in Brooklyn on April 1, for an unrelated charge. Authorities say he waved his Miranda rights and admitted his involvement in Early's robbery. He was remanded without bail.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment on whether anyone else has been arrested in connection with the robbery.