Ex-Kentucky basketball player may have been killed over baseball cap

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Friends of a former University of Kentucky basketball player who was shot to death in Ohio say two women arguing over a baseball cap may have led to the killing.

Malcolm Goff, 36, who was wounded during the Monday afternoon shooting, and witness Tina Underwood, 31, tell The Columbus Dispatch that Desmond Allison was talking on his cellphone outside an apartment complex when an ex-girlfriend took a cap off his head. Allison's current girlfriend, who'd given him the hat, saw what had happened and the two women began arguing, Goff and Underwood told the newspaper.

They say Allison exchanged words with one of the women before he and Goff walked away. Later, they say, three men approached Allison and that one of them - a relative of one of the women - argued with Allison. They say another man began shooting.

The 31-year-old Allison died at a local hospital. Goff was treated and released.

Columbus Police Det. Michael Higgins told the Dispatch that police think the argument over the hat and the shooting are connected. He says police have not determined yet if the shooter was related to one of the women.

No arrests have been made.

Allison played at Kentucky from 1998-2000. In his last season he averaged 8.9 points per game and 4.4 rebounds.

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