Michigan State Spartans guard Keith Appling (11) falls to the court chasing a loose ball in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the NCAA men's West Regional basketball tournament in Phoenix, Arizona March 22, 2012. REUTERS/Darryl Webb

Former Michigan State basketball star Keith Appling is being held without bond after a magistrate denied bail in a first-degree murder case in Detroit.

Appling was arraigned Thursday in the shooting death of 66-year-old Clyde Edmonds, which occurred May 22. Appling faces felony firearms charges in addition to first-degree murder.

A not-guilty plea was entered on Appling's behalf. His defense attorney asked for bail but was rejected on account of the seriousness of the charges.

Appling's girlfriend, Natalie Brooks Bannister, is charged with driving the getaway car.

Edmonds' wife and Appling's mother are cousins, according to the Detroit News and Associated Press.

Appling, 29, played point guard at Michigan State from 2010 to 2014 and saw action in five games for the Orlando Magic in 2016, in addition to a brief playing career overseas.

He served a year in a county jail in 2017 for resisting a police officer and carrying a concealed weapon. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation in 2020 on a drug charge.

Spartans coach Tom Izzo, who coached Appling throughout his time in East Lansing, called the situation "sad" earlier this week.

"I hope and pray to God that it's not true," Izzo told reporters. "But I have no knowledge of anything, except that I was trying to help him get back on track, as were more than a few other people."

Appling averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 142 games (124 starts) for Michigan State.

Source: Reuters

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