Police Confirm Ex-NBA Player Wright Murdered

(CBS/AP)  Former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, whose body was found in the woods outside Memphis, was shot to death and the case is being investigated as a homicide, police said Thursday.

Family members had said Wednesday that police told them Wright's body had been found near an apartment complex. Police delayed confirmation, awaiting an autopsy that confirmed the identity based on dental records, authorities said in a statement. The Shelby County medical examiner's office reported that Wright died of a gunshot wound, police said.

Wright, a 34-year-old Memphis native, was last seen around midnight July 18. His family filed a missing person report with police on July 22, but investigators said as recently as Monday that they didn't suspect foul play.

Police said a 911 call was placed from Wright's cell phone early on July 19. Investigators determined the call came from the area where the body was found and on Wednesday searched the woods and found Wright.

CBS News affiliate WREG-TV in Memphis reports that Wright was having financial problems. His home in Atlanta was foreclosed, WREG reports.

The 6-foot-11 Wright played 13 years in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wright left the University of Memphis early for the NBA, and the Clippers made him a lottery pick with the No. 7 selection overall.

He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 778 career games.

More Lorenzen Wright Coverage from Crimesider:

Ex-NBA Player Lorenzen Wright Found Dead, Uncle Says
Family of Missing Ex-NBA Player Fears Foul Play

[joadun]

Did anyone actually speak during the 911 call or gunshots all that were heard? If no voice was heard how do they know this was not a suicide? Perhaps Wright made the call from his cell phone so that the gun shots could be heard and the call traced so that his body could then be found.

[tiredofthebs]

I will be following this one closely. There are A LOT of details that are not being disclosed on the national news level. Very reliable sources here are telling me that the Germantown & Collierville police departments received a 911 call from his cellphone the night he went missing. Reportedly, gunshots could be heard in the call. I'm told that there was something else VERY ODD about the crime scene as well that will make this an easy case to solve.