Arenas: 'I want to apologize to everybody'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said Monday he wanted to "apologize to everybody" for having unloaded guns in his locker at the team's sports arena.

Arenas issued an apology after meeting for about 2 hours with prosecutors and detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

"As the person who caused this trouble in the first place, I thought it was my duty to be the first witness to come forward and meet with the prosecutors and detectives," Arenas said in a statement released following the meeting.

Arenas said the guns were used "in a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate" Dec. 21.

"Contrary to some press accounts, I never threatened or assaulted anyone with the guns and never pointed them at anyone," Arenas said. "Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong. I should not have brought the guns to D.C. in the first place, and I now realize that there's no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns -- even if unloaded."

Arenas said he was "very sorry" and apologized to his team, the NBA and fans.

"I want to apologize to everybody for letting them down with my conduct, and I promise to do better in the future."

The New York Post had reported that Arenas and Javaris Crittenton allegedly pulled guns on each other over a gambling debt. The newspaper, citing league sources, said Crittenton was angered when Arenas failed to pay a gambling debt.

The Wizards revealed on Christmas Eve that Arenas had stored firearms in a locked container in his locker at the Verizon Center, where the team plays. The team said the guns were "unloaded and without ammunition."

Arenas said he took the guns to the locker because he didn't want them at home, near his children.