Assault charge against North Carolina State basketball player Eric Lockett is dropped

The Wake County (N.C.) District Attorney's Office dropped the misdemeanor assault charge against North Carolina State basketball player Eric Lockett on Thursday, his attorney, Lee Turner, confirmed to Paste BN Sports on Friday.

Lockett, a senior graduate transfer, was arrested Feb. 14 after allegedly hitting a woman. The News & Observer reported the district attorney's office dropped the charge Thursday because the victim "prefers not to proceed" and "further investigation makes successful prosecution unlikely."

Turner told Paste BN Sports that the charge was dropped after police obtained video evidence that was beneficial to Lockett's case. Lockett agreed to participate in an eight-week anger management course as part of the dismissal, Turner said.

Lockett, a guard who has averaged 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game so far this season, was indefinitely suspended following the arrest, and Turner said he is hopeful that a separate student-conduct investigation conducted by the university — that affects Lockett's eligibility as an athlete — will soon be resolved. 

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"He's been very cooperative all along," Turner said.

North Carolina State spokesperson Fred Demarest confirmed in an email that Lockett's status with the team has not changed. 

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.