LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard's sister sentenced for murder

The 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, the older sister of Leonard, 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.