Man pleads guilty in fatal robbery of basketball star Andre Emmett from Carter High, Texas Tech

A man admitted Monday to his role in the murder of Dallas basketball player Andre Emmett. Keith Johnson pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated robbery in exchange for 20 years in prison.

Johnson was part of a group that followed Emmett home in the early hours of Sept. 23, 2019, and intended to rob him, Dallas County prosecutors said during the trial of shooter Larry Daquan Jenkins last month.

Jenkins was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Johnson, 35, was also charged with capital murder and was due to stand trial next month. But he accepted a deal from prosecutors, Johnson told State District Judge Chika Anyiam.

Anyiam approved the deal.

Another man, Michael Lucky, is also charged with Emmett’s murder. His case is pending.

Emmett was 37 and the father of two young girls when he was killed outside his home. He graduated from Carter High School in Dallas and Texas Tech University. and played basketball at both schools. His basketball career has taken him to the NBA, foreign leagues, and the Big3, a three-on-three basketball league founded by actor and rapper Ice Cube. The league retired Emmett’s jersey this year. Emmett was passionate about giving back to his community, his mother Regina Oliver said Monday in court.

Emmett drove in his garage moments before being approached by his attackers and told to return two chains and a watch. Home surveillance video showed Emmett putting his jewelry back on before fleeing as one of the attackers shot him.

Johnson was silent as Emmett’s mother spoke to him before the sheriff’s deputies led him out of the courtroom toward the jail.

Oliver said she was full of questions: Did Johnson know his son and the morals he stood for? How was Johnson affected when he saw his son shot dead? Did he regret his involvement?

Johnson faced him but said nothing. A medical mask covered his mouth.

“I prayed for you,” Oliver said. “Because I’m just that kind of mom.”