LA sheriff challenges LeBron James to match reward money for information on gunman

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva challenged NBA superstar LeBron James to match the reward offered for information on the man who shot two law enforcement officers on Saturday evening.

Los Angeles County has offered a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the gunman’s arrest and conviction, with private donors ponying up $75,000. On KABC radio, Villanueva challenged James to match the funds.

The deputies were ambushed in their police vehicle buy a gunman, who walked up and shot them at point-blank range. The deputies are now recovering after surgery.

“This challenge is to Lebron James. I want you to match that and double that reward,” Villanueva said on the John Phillips Show. “I know you care about law enforcement. You expressed a very, very interesting statement about your perspective on race relations and on officer-involved shootings and the impact that it has on the African American community, and I appreciate that. But likewise, we need to appreciate that respect for life goes across professions, across races, creeds.”

James has been a vocal advocate for racial justice. After Jacob Blake was shot and paralyzed by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, James said black Americans were “scared” of police.

“It’s just quite frankly f—ed up in our community,” James said in August. “I know people get tired of hearing me say it, but we are scared as black people in America. Black men, black women, black kids, we are terrified.”

He also tweeted about the officer-involved shooting, arguing that it was an example of “another black man being targeted.”

“And y’all wonder why we say what we say about the Police!! Someone please tell me WTF is this???!!! Exactly another black man being targeted,” James wrote. “This shit is so wrong and so sad!! Feel so sorry for him, his family and OUR PEOPLE!! We want JUSTICE.”

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