Man Shot at Wizard's Home

Stevenson Was Asleep When an Argument Lead to Gunfire in Florida

DeShawn Stevenson keeps a home in Orlando. (Evan Vucci - AP)

A man was shot in the leg at the Orlando area home of Washington Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson early yesterday, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Stevenson, who has kept a residence in Orlando since leaving the Orlando Magic to sign with the Wizards last summer, was at home sleeping when the shooting occurred, according to an incident report.

The injured man was identified as Curtis Ruff, who was treated at Health Central Hospital. Ruff engaged in an argument with two men and at least one woman while standing outside Stevenson's home, which is located in a gated community, the report said.

According to the report, former Orlando Magic player Brandon Hunter and a Stevenson acquaintance identified as Ronnie Millsap were returning from a night out and were being followed by a group of women they had invited to Stevenson's home when a man later identified as Ruff followed their vehicles into the housing community.

When the cars stopped in front of Stevenson's home, the man identified as Ruff began arguing with one of the women and pulled out a handgun and began firing, striking two cars and the side of the house, according to the report.

Hunter and Millsap told police that they did not return fire but Ruff, who has an extensive criminal record, according to authorities, later drove himself to the hospital where he was a treated for a bullet wound to the leg.

Stevenson was asleep inside the home and told authorities that he did not hear or see anything until Hunter and Millsap ran inside and told him to get down, according to the report.

Ruff did not cooperate with authorities, and Stevenson, Hunter and Millsap said they did not wish to press charges, according to the report. Detectives said no arrests were imminent.

"There was some sort of a dispute or argument," Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jim Solomons said. "We know shots were fired because there's bullet holes, there's blood on a car, we've got at least two vehicles shot up as well as bullet holes in the house. Something happened here, but nobody is really willing to tell us exactly what happened."

Stevenson, who signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Wizards in July, could not be reached to comment.

"We are aware of the incident," Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement released by the team. "We have spoken with DeShawn and he is fine and was not harmed. We will monitor the situation as this is a continuing investigation being conducted by the authorities in Orlando."