Terrence Shannon Jr. Seeks to Introduce New Evidence in Rape Case

Terrence Shannon Jr., the star basketball player at the University of Illinois, is seeking to admit evidence that could potentially clear his name in a rape case in Lawrence, Kansas. Shannon Jr. and his lawyers submitted a motion in Douglas County Court on Thursday, asking for a pre-trial ruling on the admissibility of evidence related to a third-party defendant who allegedly committed a similar sexual assault in the same location less than two weeks prior to the alleged assault in Shannon’s case.

According to the filing, video evidence shows the third-party defendant within a couple of feet of the precise location at a bar where a woman claimed she was touched. This new evidence could potentially call into question the possibility that prosecutors have charged the wrong man.

Lawrence, Kansas, where the alleged assault took place.

Shannon Jr. was arrested in December and temporarily removed from the University’s men’s basketball program following accusations of a sexual assault at a Lawrence bar in September 2023. After missing six games, he returned to play after a federal judge reinstated him, paving the way for Shannon to lead the Fighting Illini to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

The judge at the time said Shannon Jr.’s participation in college basketball was vital to the development of his career.

Shannon Jr.’s attorneys also pointed out that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation produced a report that said no male DNA swabs were found on the victim’s genital areas and that no other male DNA found on the victim’s thighs, buttocks, or underwear could be matched to Shannon.

DNA testing is a crucial part of many criminal investigations.

Court records show that Shannon Jr.’s legal counsel contacted the State about the third-party defendant on Monday, May 13. The woman who accused Shannon of sexual assault found his photo through a Google search before she contacted Lawrence Police about the incident.

Records also show that Shannon Jr.’s legal counsel contacted the State to advise that the third-party defendant was charged (but later voluntarily dismissed by the State) with allegations of rape by the same victim at a different location on August 26, 2023.

In a response filed on May 24, 2024, the State said the other offense was ‘weeks prior’ and described it as unrelated, ‘based upon nothing more than ‘untested and unproven allegations’ and the defense team’s ‘unfettered speculation.’

The Lawrence Police Department is handling the investigation.

Kansas stars Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar Jr. are expected to testify in Shannon’s defense during his trial next week, court records indicated. A different judge will listen to Shannon’s legal team’s case on Friday morning at 9 a.m.

Shannon Jr. led the Fighting Illini to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.