Former Spurs player, wife killed in car crash; Current players share condolences

TMZ Sports reports Rasual Butler, wife Leah LaBelle killed in crash near LA

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

UPDATE:

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs released a statement on Wednesday afternoon following the death of former Spur Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle.

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"We’ve lost two special people in Leah LaBelle and Rasual Butler. Our hearts, prayers and condolences are with their families and friends. Rasual was a wonderful man, friend and teammate. His positive attitude, his professionalism and his warm smile made Rasual a joy to be around. All of us will miss Rasual and Leah a great deal," the Spurs said in the statement. 

ORIGINAL STORY:

Former NBA and San Antonio Spurs player Rasual Butler and his wife were killed in a car crash in a Los Angeles suburb early Wednesday morning. 

TMZ Sports reported Butler, 38, lost control of his SUV around 2 a.m. in Studio City, California and struck a parking meter.

The vehicle slammed into a wall and flipped, according to TMZ Sports. Officers believe the car was speeding before it lost control. 

Butler played in the NBA for 14 seasons and was a member of the Spurs during the 2015-16 season.

Butler played in 46 games for San Antonio before he was waived on March 9, 2016. It was his final season in the NBA.

Butler’s wife Leah LaBelle was an R&B singer. She competed in the third season of "American Idol" in 2004. 

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Current Spurs players posted their condolences for Butler, his wife and his family on social media:

 


About the Author:

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.