Victim's family files wrongful-death lawsuit against Kings rookie Tyreke Evans

Tyreke Evans continues to be haunted by the November 2007 afternoon when his cousin, riding in the Ford Expedition that Evans was driving, pulled out a handgun and killed 19-year-old Marcus Reason in Chester Township.

The 6-6 rookie point guard for the Sacramento Kings was never charged in the drive-by shooting. In fact, Evans testified for the prosecution during the preliminary hearing for his cousin, Jamar Evans, who later pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and was ordered to serve 9 to 20 years in a state prison.

But that hasn't stopped Reason's family from naming Tyreke Evans, who will make $3.6 million this season, in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed in Delaware County.

Reason's parents, Wilson and Tawana, are suing Tyreke and Jamar Evans, as well as Rasheen Blackwell and Dwayne Davis, who were in the SUV the day Reason was gunned down.

The suit, which seeks compensation in excess of $50,000, plus punitive damages, accuses Evans, 20, of driving the vehicle up to Reason, knowing that someone else in the car intended to harm him.

Attorneys for the Reason family argue that Evans should have to pay up because his conduct was "outrageous and malicious." Evans, a Chester native and high school standout at American Christian Academy, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The lawsuit singles out Tyreke Evans, stating that he "aided, facilitated, encouraged and negligently permitted" the shooting by allowing someone into his SUV with a gun, and by speeding away after the shooting. It says the four men "acted together in common design to shoot and kill" Reason.

Investigators said the shooting was gang-related.

Evans was drafted out of the University of Memphis last year as the fourth overall pick. He is averaging 20.8 points along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 36 games and was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November and December, the first Kings player to win the award in consecutive months.