Ex-Net Williams Hospitalized After Hotel Showdown

Ex-basketball star reportedly "suicidal" and "violent"

It's a been a tragedy-filled few years for former St. John's and Nets basketball star Jayson Williams.

Williams, 41, has been awaiting retrial in the shooting death of 55-year-old limo driver Costas "Gus" Christofi on Valentine's Day, 2002. Police say Williams accidentally shot Christofi with a shotgun during a tour of his New jersey mansion.

The following year, Christofi's family accepted a $2.3 million out-of-court wrongful death settlement.

In February of this year, Williams' wife, Tanya Young Williams, claimed in a court filing that he had once threatened to kill her and their two kids and then torch their home. She has filed for divorce from Williams.

Williams was hospitalized today after he was discovered acting violently and threatening to take his own life in a Battery Park City hotel room, law enforcement officials said.

Emergency service officers tried to enter the room at the Embassy Suites hotel several times to subdue him shortly after 4 a.m.. One official said a "Taser-like" device was used to get Williams under control.

Investigators said multiple bottles of prescription drugs like Ambien were found and suicidal statements were made during the brief standoff.

One official said some writings were found inside the room as well. After he was taken into custody, police said they took Williams to St. Vincent's Medical Center for psychiatric observation.

Christofi's sister, Andrea Adams, told the Daily News that she's not surprised of Williams' latest episode.

"I always expected that he would do something violent again if he wasn't stopped," Adams said. "He's very careless. He's violent and he doesn't care."

But Williams' manager, Akhtar Farzaie, told the paper that his client is doing just fine.

"All of us are here to be by his side as friends," Farzaie said.

Williams played nine seasons in the NBA before he retired in 2000.

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