2 arrested in shooting of 2006 amateur heavyweight boxing champion outside NY shopping center

2 arrested in shooting of boxer outside NY mall

NORTH BELLPORT, N.Y. — Two people have been arrested in the shooting of a former U.S. amateur heavyweight boxing champion outside a mall in New York’s Long Island.

Darryl Austin and Rasalaam Jackson pleaded not guilty to assault charges Wednesday in the April 7 shooting of Adam Willett. Their attorneys say the two deny the charges.

The boxer was shot once in the torso in the parking lot of the Miracle Plaza Shopping Center in North Bellport, 50 miles east of New York City.

Police say Austin was being questioned following a prior weapons possession arrest when he implicated himself and Jackson in the shooting.

Former coach Mike Murphy says Willett is recovering at a relative’s home.

Willett became amateur champion in 2006. He was an alternate on the 2008 Olympic team in Beijing.