LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard's sister sentenced for murder

A sister of LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was one of two women sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of an elderly woman in a Southern California casino in 2019.

Kimesha Williams, one of Leonard's sisters, and Candace Townsel were convicted in February for the murder of 84-year-old Afaf Assad in a bathroom at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. Sentencing for the first-degree murder convictions was handed down Friday.

According to reports, Williams and Townsel went to the casino on Aug. 31, 2019, and Assad and her husband entered with a purse containing approximately $1,000 for gambling. When Assad went into a bathroom, Williams allegedly followed her and Townsel stayed outside to be the lookout.

A short time later, a woman in another stall heard a loud thud. Williams and Townsel were seen fleeing to the exit. Assad was found bleeding on the floor. She had a fractured skull and died four days later.

Williams denied killing Assad in a statement read by her attorney at the sentencing hearing.

Leonard grew up in the Riverside area and developed into a college star at San Diego State before becoming one of the NBA's top players.

Leonard's father, Mark, was a murder victim in 2008.

Reuters contributed to this story.