Raymond Felton arrested, charged with felony weapons possession: NY Knicks star's wife Ariane Raymondo files for divorce, 'fearful' of illegal, fully-loaded gun in home

Reports confirm that New York Knicks baller Raymond Felton was arrested on Tuesday (Feb. 24) and ultimately charged with felony weapons possession. Apparently, the NBA star's estranged wife Ariane Raymondo-Felton was "fearful" of an unregistered, armor-piercing firearm remaining in their home. Her attorney turned the semiautomatic gun over to NYPD authorities on Monday evening before the arrest.

The story's somewhat odd. Apparently, Raymondo-Felton recently filed for divorce from the popular NBA guard. But she still lives with her soon-to-be ex, and was worried that he might do something crazy with the illegal, Belgian-made pistol he kept by his bedside.

After authorities got hold of the fully-loaded gun, Felton turned himself over for questioning at the 20th Precinct early Tuesday morning (12:50 a.m.). He was soon handcuffed and arrested. 

A source for the Daily News explains that the weapon is usually kept in a bag in the couple's bedroom. Police were shocked when they removed the magazine from the pistol and a bullet fell out, thus indicating that the weapon was ready to fire at any time.

When the couple argued, Felton would wave the gun around in the air. However, he never pointed the weapon directly at his wife.

Felton's 26-year-old wife filed for divorce last week after just 19 months of marriage.

(LinkedIn)

A law enforcement source claims that Raymondo-Felton was scared of the loaded gun being left in the home:

"She had knowledge that the gun was there... She said she didn't want the gun there anymore."

The 29-year-old athlete was later charged with two counts of felony possession of a firearm and an additional misdemeanor possession count. He is due in Manhattan Criminal Court later Tuesday morning. 

Felton once had this to say about the impending divorce affecting his game:

"It's your life. When you're going through certain things in life it's on your mind, no matter what. You try not to let it come into your job, into your workplace, but sometimes it does. You're human and it's a part of life. But at the same time, it is what it is. That's my personal life, though; I don't want to discuss that part."

The Knicks' next game is on Thursday (Feb. 27) against the Miami Heat.