By AP/KWMU
Columbia, MO – Missouri basketball dismissed starting forward Kalen Grimes on Tuesday, a week after the Tigers' leading rebounder was charged with second-degree felony assault for allegedly hitting a man in the face with the butt end of a loaded shotgun.
"This is an unfortunate situation and one that I know he regrets, but it is in the best interest of Kalen and our program to move forward with this decision," coach Mike Anderson said in a statement. "Although we have dismissed Kalen from our program, we will continue to help him through this difficult time."
A spokesman for the team declined further comment. Grimes did not have a listed phone number, and police and prosecutors said they did not have a record of Grimes' attorney.
Grimes, 21, was arrested after an incident that happened around 3 a.m. July 7 outside a Dairy Queen in his hometown of Florissant in north St. Louis County.
Florissant Police Chief William Karabas said Grimes' cousin and another man got into an argument, prompting the cousin to call Grimes. Karabas said Grimes admitted that he and his brother, Michael, drove to the restaurant parking lot, where Grimes allegedly pumped the shotgun twice, then struck the man in the face.
No shots were fired. Grimes drove away but was stopped a short time later after a witness told police about the altercation. He was released on $15,000 bond.
The victim suffered a cut to the forehead. Michael Grimes was also struck in the head with a lug wrench during the skirmish, police said, but neither man was seriously hurt.
Grimes, a 6-foot-9 senior, started 24 games last season. He averaged seven points and led Missouri with 5.6 rebounds per game.
Missouri began a "zero-tolerance" policy after junior forward DeMarre Carroll, a highly regarded transfer from Vanderbilt, was shot in the ankle earlier this month during a disturbance outside a Columbia nightclub.