Former Michigan State player Keith Appling pleads guilty in 2021 murder case

Former Michigan State basketball player Keith Appling pleaded guilty to murder and firearm charges in the 2021 shooting of a Detroit man, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Appling pleaded guilty in Wayne County, Michigan, court to a second-degree murder charge and a felony firearm charge in the killing of 66-year-old Clyde Edmonds in 2021. He agreed to a prison sentence of 18 to 40 years and will be sentenced in March. Two other firearm charges are set to be dismissed as part of his plea deal.

Appling was arrested in 2021 after police said he got into an argument with Edmonds, who was his mother’s cousin, over a handgun. The argument reportedly turned physical, and Appling allegedly fired multiple shots at Edmonds, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Appling allegedly fled the scene with his girlfriend, Natalie Bannister, whom police said later lied to investigators about what happened. She pleaded guilty last year to a count of lying to a police officer and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

Appling played at Michigan State from 2010 to '14 and averaged 10.6 points and 4.5 assists per game in his career. The former Mr. Basketball in Michigan briefly played for the Orlando Magic, appearing in five games before he was waived.