Redshirt senior Ebony Walker has been suspended indefinitely and stripped of her captain label after being charged with domestic violence and aggravated assault against a household member Tuesday night.
According to the Albuquerque Police Department report, officers were dispatched in response to a confrontation between Walker and her boyfriend, Tredarius Moten.
According to the report, a witness called APD’s attention to the altercation after she allegedly saw Walker chasing after Moten in the parking lot of the apartment complex, throwing knives and nearly striking him with one.
Walker told an officer, according to the report, that the altercation began after Walker found out Moten had been calling her teammates without her knowledge. Walker told the officer she pushed Moten while telling him to leave the apartment.
Walker said in the report that Moten retaliated against her until she was pushed into a wall, leaving a dent. Walker said she grabbed some kitchen knives, dropping all but one, before throwing it in the opposite direction of Moten.
The criminal complaint said Moten was reluctant to speak with police, and stated that he didn’t want to get Walker into trouble. Moten told an officer he saw Walker throw an item into the street that he thought was a knife, but was not worried it would hit him.
While the aggravated assault charges against Walker have been dropped, she is still facing simple assault charges, a misdemeanor. Despite the lessened charge, UNM’s stance remains firm and Walker will not be joining the team for the time being.
Head coach Yvonne Sanchez said despite the felony charges being dropped, she will make a decision on Walker’s role in the team once she has gathered all of the information from the domestic violence charge.
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Sanchez said. “When people put their hands on each other in an angry manner, it’s not ok.”
Sanchez said the situation, regardless of gender, is not acceptable. The head coach said not all of the facts have been given, but the school and the team have been affected by the charges.
“It’s put a black eye on our team,” Sanchez said. “I want to do what’s right for Ebony and I want to do what’s right for this program. Those can be completely different things.”
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In Thursday evening’s press conference that lasted almost 19 minutes, Sanchez said she will make the decision of if or when Walker returns at the conclusion of the investigation and when she is certain of what the right decision will be.
“I’m going to continue to do things the right way,” Sanchez said. “That’s the statement I want to make.”
Walker’s return home has not been an ideal one.
Attending high achool at Sandia, Walker led her team to a state title and was listed as a Top 25 prospect by ESPN HoopGurlz. Walker left the Land of Enchantment to play at Texas Tech during her freshman and sophomore campaign before returning to New Mexico.
Due to NCAA regulations, Walker was required to redshirt during her junior year, not appearing in any games. In her first two games back in Albuquerque, Walker was averaging over 10 points and over five boards before an Achilles injury ended her junior campaign early.
UNM’s center recovered from the injury in the offseason and was set to see her first playing time in New Mexico’s first exhibition game on Sunday against Eastern New Mexico.
Sanchez said Walker will not be allowed to practice with the team because the squad needs to focus on the game and not on off-court issues.
UNM will miss Walker’s presence inside, but Sanchez said the team’s depth will accommodate for the absence of Walker.
“I know things happen,” Sanchez said. “It’s my job, in the position that I am in, that people are held accountable.”
Sanchez said all that she knows is that Walker will definitely be suspended for Sunday’s game and will no longer be a captain if permitted to rejoin the team — beyond that will be up to how she and the school process the facts.
Liam Cary-Eaves is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
