Tag: suge knight
‘Suge’ Knight Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder; Held On $2-Million Bail

‘Suge’ Knight Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder; Held On $2-Million Bail

By Ryan Parker and Angel Jennings, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES — Notorious former rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight has been arrested on suspicion of murder after he allegedly ran over two men with his truck following an argument on a film set in Compton, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed. He is being held in lieu of $2-million bail.

Knight, 49, arrived at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood station with his attorney around 12:30 a.m. to be interviewed by homicide detectives as a person of interest in the case, according to authorities and his lawyer.

The interview concluded around 3:30 a.m., Knight’s attorney, James E. Blatt, told The Times.

The confrontation began about 3 p.m. Thursday when Knight and two unidentified men began arguing on the set of “Straight Outta Compton,” a biopic about the group N.W.A., said Capt. John Corina of the Sheriff’s Department’s detectives unit.

About 20 minutes after the alleged argument, the victims were at Tam’s Burgers near Central and East Rosecrans avenues, authorities said. Knight is believed to have followed the men in his truck and run them over in the parking lot, Corina said.

Witnesses said the truck hit the men, then backed over them before leaving the scene.

One of the victims, 55, died, and the other, 51, suffered undisclosed injuries, Corina said. At least one of the victims was a member of the film crew, he said.

Blatt said his client was being attacked by a group of men, and, while trying to get away from his attackers, accidentally ran over the victims.

“I am positive Mr. Knight will be exonerated by Tuesday,” Blatt said. “Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and still need to see video of the incident.”

A representative for Knight had no comment on the allegations.

Traffic slowed to a crawl at the corner of Rosecrans and Central avenues as evening commuters tried to navigate past the crime scene. Onlookers gathered, trying to catch a glimpse of the parking lot of the popular burger joint. Social media exploded with the news about Knight’s allegedly being involved in another crime.

Directed by F. Gary Gray, “Straight Outta Compton” tells the story of N.W.A., a pioneering rap group made of up Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube, and later, MC Ren. Modern-day rappers credit the group with making rap mainstream and inspiring many of today’s top artists. Knight’s affiliation with the production of the movie, if any, is unclear.

Knight co-founded Death Row Records with Dr. Dre in 1991 and built it into the first rap label to consistently dominate the pop scene. But he has a history of legal troubles.

In 1996, Knight was at the wheel of a BMW in Las Vegas when passenger and popular rapper Tupac Shakur was shot by gunmen in another vehicle. Shakur died a week later, and the case has not been solved.

In 1997, Knight was sentenced to nine years in prison for violating the terms of his probation from an earlier assault case. He was released from prison in 2001 but was sent back to jail two years later for violating parole when he hit a parking lot attendant.

In 2006, Knight filed for bankruptcy. He put his Malibu mansion up for sale the following year. In 2008, he was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of drug possession and aggravated assault. The next year, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery.

Last August, Knight and two others were shot inside a packed West Hollywood nightclub at a pre-awards party hosted by singer Chris Brown.

Photo: A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s patrol car blocks the intersection at Rosecarans and Central avenues on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, near the parking lot at Tam’s Burgers, where a fatal hit-and-run occurred. (Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Shooting Of Suge Knight Was A ‘Crime Of Opportunity,’ Official Says

Shooting Of Suge Knight Was A ‘Crime Of Opportunity,’ Official Says

By Hailey Branson-Potts and Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times

Authorities say there was no altercation prior to a gunman shooting rap impresario Marion “Suge” Knight inside a packed West Hollywood nightclub early Sunday.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. John Corina said the shooting was “a crime of opportunity” and that investigators were reviewing video surveillance to identify the gunman.

Law enforcement sources said a preliminary investigation suggests Sunday’s shooting is connected to gang rivalry and Knight’s long-standing connections with Compton’s Bloods gang.

The shooting sent club-goers screaming as they spilled out into the streets with their hands in the air. Sheriff’s deputies descended on the club about 1:30 a.m., but the gunman was able to escape as the large crowd flooded Sunset Boulevard.

Knight, 49, was hit multiple times, but is expected to survive after undergoing surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

A man and woman were also wounded and are being treated at a Los Angeles hospital.

The cavernous club was packed for a pre-awards party hosted by singer Chris Brown, who was celebrating his upcoming album. Brown was quickly surrounded by a security entourage after the shooting.

A witness told The Times that when the shooting occurred, he first thought it was part of the show at the club.

“It was 1:30. I was about to leave, and all of a sudden I heard gunshots,” he said. “I saw a bunch of people running out. I ran out with them.”

Knight’s family on Sunday called for prayers for the mogul.

“The family of Suge Knight asks that you keep Suge in your prayers and to stray away from the negativity portrayed by the media,” Knight’s family said in a statement to Revolt. “Suge is currently resting and has lost a lot of blood; he’s human. He’s done a lot of things for the community and the culture as a whole so we ask that you respect that.”

The Death Row Records founder is no stranger to gunfight, having been previously shot in 2005 at another pre-awards party hosted by Kanye West in Miami, and most famously was driving the BMW 750 in 1996 when Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas. In that incident, Knight was hit by bullet fragments.

Photo via WikiCommons

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