James Bouknight appeared to have a Glock handgun and a bag of Doritos in his lap as he was asleep in his vehicle when he was arrested for DWI.
TMZ obtained a photo showing the Hornets shooting guard in his Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, passed out, with those items on his lap.
Bouknight, 22, was arrested for DWI early Sunday morning in Mecklenburg County, N.C. His vehicle was stopped at the time and blocking the access to a parking garage.
Witnesses told the outlet that security tried to wake Bouknight up by “repeatedly pounding” on his window, but were unsuccessful. The security guards called the police when they saw the gun on his lap.
Bouknight was released on $2,500 bond.
James Bouknight of the Charlotte Hornets allegedly had a gun and a bag of Doritos in his car when he was arrested for DWI. TMZ Sports
James Bouknight of the Charlotte Hornets allegedly had a gun and a bag of Doritos in his car when he was arrested for DWI. TMZ SportsHe was not charged with a gun crime; North Carolina is an open carry state that does not require gun owners to hold permits.
“We are aware of the incident involving James Bouknight and are in the process of gathering additional information. We will have no further comment at this time,” the Hornets said in a statement after his arrest.
Bouknight was selected 11th overall in last year’s NBA Draft by the Hornets after starring at UConn. He appeared in 31 games for Charlotte last season, averaging 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.
Charlotte Hornets guard James Bouknight plays against the Washington Wizards during an NBA preseason basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Oct. 10, 2022. AP
James Bouknight of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles against the Philadelphia 76ers during a preseason game on Oct. 12, 2022, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Hornets are also currently without Miles Bridges, who is facing domestic violence and child abuse charges in Los Angeles.
