Ex-Michigan State Standout Keith Appling Faces Murder Charge In Shooting Death

Former Michigan State point guard Keith Appling is facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of a family member, prosecutors said.

Detroit police named Appling the prime suspect in the May 22 murder of 66-year-old Clyde Edmonds, his mother's cousin. Along with first-degree murder, Appling faces charges of felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felony firearm.

Appling's girlfriend, Natalie Brooks Bannister, is also being charged with one count of accessory after the fact and one count of lying to a peace officer. 

Appling, 29, was arrested May 24 by state troopers in Chelsea, Mich., about 55 miles west of Detroit. Per state authorities, troopers recovered a firearm during the arrest.

Appling and Edwards got into an argument in late May that resulted in a physical fight, police said. Appling allegedly then fired several shots, killing Edwards, before speeding off from the scene.

“Appling faced drug charges in February 2020 and was sentenced in December to 18 months probation,” OutKick’s Megan Turner relayed. “In 2017, he was sentenced to a year in jail for carrying a concealed weapon and resisting police.”

Appling is 6-foot-1 and went undrafted by the NBA in 2014 after four years at Michigan State. As a senior at Pershing High School, he was named Michigan’s Mr. Basketball and played in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

He appeared in five games with the Orlando Magic during the 2015-16 season for his lone run in the NBA. He also spent time in the G League and playing professionally overseas, most recently with Italian club Pallacanestro Piacentina in 2019.