Fatal shooting at ex-NBA star's home called suspicious by authorities, accident by attorney

<br>ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) _ The shooting death of a limousine driver at the estate of former NBA star Jayson Williams was classified as suspicious by authorities, but Williams' lawyer called

Friday, February 15th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) _ The shooting death of a limousine driver at the estate of former NBA star Jayson Williams was classified as suspicious by authorities, but Williams' lawyer called it an ``unfortunate accident.''

Costas Christofi, 55, was found in a bedroom with a shotgun wound to his chest early Thursday, acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Steven C. Lember said.

The death was first reported to authorities as a suicide but was later classified as suspicious after a preliminary investigation by the medical examiner. Lember said forensic evidence found at the scene also indicated the death was not a suicide. An autopsy was scheduled for later Friday.

Williams' lawyer, Joseph Hayden, would not elaborate on his description of the shooting.

``There is a death and there is an investigation, and Mr. Williams wants to know his rights and responsibilities,'' Hayden told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's editions.

The shotgun used in the shooting belonged ``on the property,'' prosecutor Steven C. Lember said. He wouldn't say if the gun was registered to Williams or if anyone else lives with him at the 65-acre estate.

``I can't tell you specifically what the purpose of the shotgun was, but it was clearly a shotgun, and it belonged on the property,'' Lember said.

State police Sgt. Al Della Fave said Williams has a skeet shooting range and shotguns on the property.

Christofi had been hired by Williams to transport friends from a charity sporting event featuring the Harlem Globetrotters in Bethlehem, Pa., to a restaurant, and then to Williams' home. Williams, his brother Vincent and about 10 guests were in the home at the time of the shooting, Lember said.

The limousine driver had an extensive criminal record, including multiple convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property, the Star-Ledger reported.

He was a counselor at a residential drug-treatment facility before joining the limousine company, said his roommate, Evans Hewitt.

No one answered calls Thursday and Friday to Williams' house, a 30,000-square-foot home that sits on 65 acres in a rural area about 30 miles northwest of Trenton.

Williams, a basketball commentator for NBC, was one of the NBA's best rebounders when he played for the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers in the 1990s.

In November, Williams was charged with pushing a police officer after an argument at a bar in Branchburg. He pleaded innocent to charges of obstruction of justice; trial is set for Feb. 27.