Tulane Basketball

Former Tulane basketball player Teshaun Hightower has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and more following a fatal shooting April 8, but his attorney has maintained Hightower's innocence.

"He's innocent. He didn't shoot anybody," Averick Walker said of Hightower, per Mark Schlabach of ESPN. "It's sad that this detective sought to make him out to be a monster and he's not. When it's all said and done, it will come out in the wash that the person who did fire the gun shot the gun to protect Teshaun.

"Teshaun's brother actually fired the weapon and fired in self-defense," the attorney added.

In addition to the felony murder and aggravated assault charges, Hightower has also been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and battery.

Hightower and his brother, Jeffery, are both being held without bond at the Henry County Jail in Georgia.

The police department initially announced six people were subjects involved in the homicide of Devante Anthony Long. Five are now in custody.

An investigation resulted in a murder charge for Hightower, but Walker alleged Long had a gun in his hand and his client had a right in Georgia to stand his ground.

Tulane dismissed the guard from the team following his initial arrest.

The former Georgia transfer was the Green Wave leading scorer in 2019-20, averaging 15.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Tulane guard Teshaun Hightower has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, battery and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, according to Rob Dauster of NBC Sports. 

Per that report, Hightower is one of five people to have been arrested for the April 8 shooting of Devante Anthony Long, who died at the hospital of his gunshot wounds. Six people in total are wanted in connection to the shooting. 

The other suspects identified by authorities in the Stockbridge, Georgia, homicide are Tyreek Farmer, Tobias Gresham, Antoine Gresham, Jeffrey Hightower and Kelvonie Burney.

Per Dauster, Hightower is being held without bail and was due in court Sunday.

Hightower began his college career at Georgia, spending two seasons with the Bulldogs, before transferring to Tulane. He averaged 15.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in the 2019-20 season for the Green Wave.

He announced April 18 that he was entering the 2020 NBA draft. He had not hired an agent, according to Brandon Sudge of Macon.com.