NBA player's ex slain in Chicago

CHICAGO - A woman found shot to death in an apartment night was a former girlfriend of New York Knicks player Eddy Curry and the mother of his 3-year-old son, Curry's attorney said yesterday.

A relative found the bodies of Nova Henry, 24, and her 9-month-old daughter, Ava, in their apartment Saturday evening, Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond said. Both died from multiple gunshot wounds, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said yesterday.

Curry's son was found unharmed, but, according to reports, witnessed the killings.

The Chicago Tribune said police are searching for a "known acquaintance" of Henry's in connection with the killing. The Associated Press reported that police believe the murders were the result of a domestic dispute.

Henry's mother found the bodies in the apartment about 6 p.m. Saturday.

Curry, who formerly played for the Chicago Bulls, was with the Knicks in Philadelphia Saturday for their 116-110 loss to the 76ers. He did not play in the game because of a sore knee. Teammates said he was emotional when informed about the situation after the game. Curry's attorney, Kelly Saindon, said Curry's family was devastated by the news.

Curry was not available for comment yesterday because the Knicks did not practice.

Several of his teammates were concerned for Curry and the Henry family.

"We just told him we support him," Jared Jeffries said. "Our prayers are with all of them."

The Knicks yesterday released a statement on behalf of Curry which said: "The Curry family is deeply saddened by this tragic loss and will keep the Henry family in their prayers. This is a police matter and we ask that the media respect the privacy of both families during this time of mourning."

Curry is married and, according to the team's media guide, has four children - Eddy III, 6, Reign, 5, Reigan, 3, and Reiganna, 2.

He and his wife, Patrice, live in Burr Ridge, Ill., during the offseason and in Westchester, N.Y., during the NBA season.

Two weeks ago, Curry's former driver, David Kuchinsky, filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit against him. Saindon said Curryplans to file a countersuit.

In July 2007, Curry was the victim of a home invasion in Illinois in which he and his wife were held at gunpoint and tied up. The three assailants made off with cash and jewelry. A month later, four young members of a Chicago-area gang were arrested in the incident.

Curry has appeared in just one game this season because of chronic knee troubles and conditioning issues.

Police believe the killings near the city's South Side were the result of a domestic dispute, Bond said. She would not elaborate.

Rob Bryant, who said he was Nova Henry's uncle, told the Chicago Sun-Times that Henry had a restraining order against her boyfriend.

The city recently has seen several high-profile deaths blamed on domestic violence. A brother-in-law of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges he fatally shot Hudson's mother, brother and nephew. Prosecutors allege William Balfour killed them in October 2008 because he was upset the actress's sister had been dating another man. *