Ex-Michigan State Star Keith Appling Arrested In Connection With Fatal Shooting

Former Michigan State guard and journeyman pro Keith Appling has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 66-year-old man in Detroit.

As OutKick's Meg Turner relayed Sunday, Appling was quickly identified as a suspect in the murder, which occurred late Saturday.

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

The race and identity of the victim have not been disclosed.

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

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

Appling is a 6-foot-1 point guard 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 in foreign leagues, most recently with Italian club Pallacanestro Piacentina in 2019.