Jereme Richmond Didn't Have Weapon, 911 Tape Shows
WAUKEGAN (CBS) -- Former Waukegan basketball star Jereme Richmond was not the one with the gun when he visited his ex-girlfriend's house in August, according to a 9-1-1 recording played in Lake County Circuit Court on Thursday.
Richmond, 19, was one of four men who visited his ex's Waukegan residence Aug. 8, according to the recording. He was accompanied by three other individuals.
The ex-girlfriend's father, who was also on the phone with the 911 operator, told the dispatcher he thought he saw one of them with a gun.
"Who has the gun?" Waukegan 911 operator Denise Christianson asked the father.
"The other guy is with the gun ... No, not Jereme. The guy with the do-rag," the father said on the tape. "He's short. They're in front of the house. Jereme is coming inside the house."
The "other guy" was not identified by name on the recording, nor were the other two people present. There was not an accusation of a gun being pointed at anyone during the incident, according to the tape.
The ex's father said he thought he saw a gun and thought he saw the "short" one reach toward his hip.
Richmond was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated battery for incidents on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.
The ex-girlfriend's mother called 911 on Aug. 8. She identified her daughter's ex-boyfriend as Richmond and said at Richmond had visited their house the day before.
"My daughter's (ex) boyfriend hit her," she told Christianson.
She also said that he sent threatening messages and "he kept calling her and calling her."
The 911 tapes were played as part of a hearing where defense attorney Lawrence Wade is trying to quash Richmond's arrest, suppress evidence and sever the gun charge from the aggravated battery charge.
Christianson testified she was concerned for the callers' safety the day they dialed 911.
She was the first witness called to testify. Two police officers are expected to give testimony when the hearing continues later this month.
Richmond has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
He remains free from custody on $70,000 bond.
If convicted, he faces two to five years in prison for the aggravated battery charge and one to three years in prison on the gun charge.
Richmond led the Waukegan Bulldogs to victory at state tournaments. He also started in six of the 31 games he played as a freshman at the University of Illinois.
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