Israeli basketball team pays tribute to ex-player who died after LA shootout

Ironi Ness Ziona paid tribute to Tyler Honeycutt, an ex-NBA basketball player who played a season for the Israeli team, after he died over the weekend following a shootout with police officers in Los Angeles, calling him “one of the best and favorite players in the club.”

Honeycutt, 27, who played for Ironi Ness Ziona in the 2013/14 season, wasn’t named by local police, who said a suspect was killed from a “self-inflicted gunshot wound” after firing on officers.

“We are shocked by the news of the death of former player Tyler Honeycutt, who played in the historic first season in the Premier League and was one of the cornerstones of the team in the first division,” the club said in a statement Saturday.

“Tyler had good relations with the club and the fans, and will always remain one of the best and favorite players in the club. He has a place of honor in the history of the club and in the hearts of all of us. We comfort the family in their time of sorrow. Rest in peace, Tyler.”

Honeycutt’s mother reportedly called the police on Friday amid concerns her son was acting “erratically.”

The Los Angeles police said they responded to a call and upon arriving at the scene were fired at by a man who had barricaded himself inside a residence. There were no reports of police injuries.

UPDATE: Regarding last nights Officer-Involved Shooting in Van Nuys Division, it appears as if the suspect was not struck by any officer’s gunfire. The suspect appears to have sustained injuries consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) July 7, 2018

When the SWAT team entered the house they found the man “unresponsive.”

Honeycutt began his career at UCLA before he was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2011. He played for the Reno Bighorns and Houston Rockets before moving to Israel in 2013 to join Ironi Ness Ziona.