LeBron James deletes tweet threatening police officer who shot knife-wielding teen

On Tuesday afternoon at 4:35 pm, Columbus police were called to a fight where a suspect with a knife, who was later identified as Ma'Kiah Bryant, was on scene. Bryant can be seen in the video with a large knife attacking 2 girls who also appear to be teenagers. Just as Bryant is going to stab one of the girls who is backed up against a car, officer Nicholas Reardon shoots Bryant, causing her to collapse to the ground.

Officer Reardon has been identified as the officer who shot Bryant and has been placed on paid leave pending an investigation.

Immediately following the incident, media, activists and social justice groups made the claim that Bryant was unarmed and innocent and wrongfully killed by police in a mad rush to judgement.

Four-time NBA MVP Lebron James, who 24 hours after the shooting and 19 hours after the footage of Bryant with a knife appeared, posted a picture of officer Reardon with the caption "You're Next" in reference to the recent guilty verdict of officer Derek Chauvin, who murdered George Floyd.

James deleted the tweet shortly after it was published. The tweet had garnered tens of thousands of replies and retweets.

Many on social media have slammed James for his misleading tweet in regards to the shooting. Megyn Kelly called his comments "disgusting and dangerous" while professor and writer Gad Saad said James has "no moral compass".

Others are inquiring James' tweet "threatening" and seeking action from Twitter.

Lebron James has been known to peddle to social justice causes and inflame racial tensions with provocative and often untrue remarks. James, on the subject of elections said black votes "do not matter" and made national headlines for wearing an "I can't breath" shirt. Many have come out against James' political antics including fellow NBA players.

Part of the outrage against James come from his continued indifference to the genocide and human rights violations occurring in China despite his criticism of the United States. When Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey voiced support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong James rebutted, "I don’t want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation."

Ratings for the NBA have plummeted since James and others commenced their crusade in support of Black Lives Matter and promotion of extreme anti-police rhetoric.