Quentin Richardson has left the Knicks indefinitely to be with his family after the fatal shooting of his brother in Chicago.

Lee Richardson Jr., 31, was shot multiple times during a robbery late Monday morning in a South Side neighborhood, a Chicago police spokesman said. He was pronounced dead at 5:39 p.m. Central time, the authorities said. Richardson's father, Lee, was also robbed but was not reported to be harmed.

The news reached Quentin Richardson just before the Knicks held practice here early Monday afternoon. He flew home Monday night. The team did not announce his absence until Tuesday morning, saying Richardson left because of "a serious family emergency."

"Out of respect for his privacy and what he and his family are dealing with, we won't comment on any of his personal issues or things that are happening," said the team president Isiah Thomas, who is also a Chicago native. "Our prayers and thoughts are with him. And from an organization and team standpoint, we will do everything that we're supposed to do and beyond."

It is unclear when the 25-year-old Richardson will return to the team.