Suns' Morris twins charged with felony assault

A Maricopa County grand jury handed down indictments for Phoenix Suns players Marcus and Markieff Morris, each charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault this month in relation to a January incident while the twins attended a high school club basketball tournament in Phoenix.

Phoenix police investigated the case and turned over its findings for Maricopa County Attorney's Office prosecutors to review. The case was submitted to the grand jury April 9.

An indictment was filed against the 25-year-old Suns players shortly thereafter.

On Friday, a summons was issued for the Morrises to make a May 7 appearance in Superior Court.

"We have been advised by our attorneys not to discuss this case or make any statements about it," the Morrises said in a joint prepared statement through their agency. "We are sorry for the distraction this has caused to our fans and the Suns."

Their agent, Leon Rose, also issued a statement, reading, "Markieff and Marcus are good men and I am confident that when all the facts come out, their names will be cleared."

The incident took place on the night of Jan. 24 during a weekend basketball tournament, the Westwind Prep Southwest Prep Showcase, at the Nina Mason Pulliam Recreation and Sports Complex near 15th Avenue and Colter Street in central Phoenix.

A Phoenix police report indicated that the Morris twins and three other men assaulted Erik Hood, 36, a man they denied knowing. Hood told police that he had known them since they were ninth-graders in Philadelphia and mentored them while they played at the University of Kansas. Hood told police that he and the twins had a "falling out" in 2010. He said, in 2010, one of the Jan. 24 suspects saw Hood's text message to the Morris' mother that he would always be there for her and took it out of context, telling the twins that Hood wanted Angel Morris to be his girlfriend.

The other three suspects, as identified in a Phoenix police media release, are Christopher Melendez, 24; Julius Kane, 25; and Gerald Bowman, the 25-year-old Southern California safety from Philadelphia who is an NFL draft candidate. Their names are redacted from the indictment.

Phoenix police were initially called to the hospital where Hood was being treated for a broken nose, bruises and cuts on Jan. 24. He told police that he saw the Morris twins enter the gym and leave before the game ended. When Hood left the gym with a 27-year-old female friend of 1 1/2 months, he was confronted by Kane and then struck from behind by another man, Hood told police.

Hood told detectives that he tried to get up and run but was dazed and fell to the ground in a grassy area, where he was held down by Kane and punched and kicked by others. A witness said the Morris twins were involved in that. Hood, who is 6 feet 5 and 245 pounds, told police he again tried to run away but was held down and kicked again. A witness saw Marcus near that circumstance and another witness told police that Markieff tried to convince people coming out of the gym that there was nothing to see, prompting one coach to chastise him as a poor role model.

Hood told police he saw Marcus kicking him in the head and later recanted whether he knew Markieff was involved. Hood and his friend said the incident began when Kane approached them as they exited the gym and said, "You know what time it is." She ran inside to get help when Hood was struck and came out when Hood was down for a second time by the property's entrance.

The female witness recognized the twins from attending the previous night's Suns game and identified the other suspects from an Instagram photo she found by searching the Morrises' accounts.

Hood told police that the Morris' mother, Angel, had texted him that day asking why he had not contacted her while she was visiting Phoenix. He said he told her he was going to the tournament, where he works as a talent scout for aspiring recruits. Angel Morris denied any communication with Hood on Jan. 24 but police took screenshots of text messages from Hood's phone.

The Morrises sponsor a Reno team that was playing in the tournament and had their childhood club coach at the event.

Marcus and Markieff denied knowing Hood but told police that his name sounds familiar. They told police that they heard about a fight but were not involved.

"I feel like if we wasn't in the NBA, (expletive), we wouldn't be having this conversation," Marcus said to the detective.

Police investigated and then turned over the report to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The Morris twins have received court summons while the other three suspects also received grand jury warrants.

Markieff has played all four of his NBA seasons for Phoenix, which drafted him at No. 13 in 2011 and then traded for his twin, Marcus, with the idea of each becoming better players if united. They have done so in Marcus' 2 ½ seasons with the team and jointly negotiated new contracts last year that will kick in starting next season. Markieff, who started 82 games this season, will receive $32 million over four years while Marcus, who started 35 games this season, will get $20 million over four years.

"We are disappointed to learn that Marcus and Markieff Morris have been charged," Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said in a statement. "This is a serious matter, and we will treat it as such. However, at this time, we think it is most appropriate to continue to monitor the legal process as it unfolds before responding further."

Suns statement from Lon Babby

"We are disappointed to learn that Marcus and Markieff Morris have been charged. This is a serious matter, and we will treat it as such. However, at this time, we think it is most appropriate to continue to monitor the legal process as it unfolds before responding further."

Statement by Marcus and Markieff Morris

"We have been advised by our attorneys not to discuss this case or make any statements about it. We are sorry for the distraction this has caused to our fans and the Suns."

Statement by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) representative, Leon Rose

"Markieff and Marcus are good men and I am confident that when all the facts come out, their names will be cleared."

Reach Paul Coro at paul.coro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at twitter.com/paulcoro.