Police arrested Mavericks assistant coach Darrell Armstrong on Saturday, February 15, and charged him with aggravated assault. Armstrong allegedly hit his girlfriend with a gun and threatened to shoot her after they both got into a heated argument.
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According to The Dallas Morning News, both Armstrong and his unnamed girlfriend were at their apartment. The woman then confronted Armstrong after she reportedly saw a text message from another woman on his phone. This prompted an argument, and Armstrong asked his girlfriend to give him her key to the apartment, and she complied.
Moments later, Armstrong, who had been drinking according to his girlfriend, was talking to someone on the phone. He suddenly entered the kitchen and allegedly hit his girlfriend with a gun, striking the left side of her face. Moreover, Armstrong then allegedly loaded his gun and threatened to shoot his girlfriend. Fearing for her life, the woman exited the apartment and called the police.
Once police arrived at the apartment at around 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, they noticed that the woman had a mark on her face. They also located the gun that was allegedly used to strike her. Police arrested Darrell Armstrong and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has since been released from jail after posting bond.
Mavericks Responds
When asked about the incident, the Dallas Mavericks shared a statement with The Dallas Morning News. However, they refrained from naming Darrell Armstrong directly, referring to him instead as "a member of our staff" and an "employee."
"The Dallas Mavericks are aware of an incident involving a member of our staff and are gathering all relevant information surrounding the incident," the statement reads.
"We take this matter seriously. The employee has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of legal proceedings. This matter is currently under review by the appropriate legal authorities. Due to this fact, we will allow the legal process to run its course and we will refrain from further comment while proceedings are ongoing."
Armstrong's attorney, Larry Taylor, also shared a statement with the outlet, saying that they are conducting their own "independent investigations" involving Darrell Armstrong.
"Mr. Armstrong has been an upstanding member of the Dallas community during his playing days and as a coach. We will have more to say about this incident in the coming days," Taylor said.
According to the New York Post, Darrell Armstrong has been an assistant coach for the Mavericks since the 2008-2009 season. He played as a point guard in the NBA for 14 years for teams such as Magic, Hornets, Pacers, and even the Mavericks.
