LAPD says Suge Knight, not singer Chris Brown was the intended target at Brown’s pre-VMA party this past weekend. The latest news is a break in the case, but sheds no light on rumors about the shooting being gang-related. Furthermore, police are clueless over who shot the former Death Row Records co-founder, and have no new information at this time on a motive, according to RadarOnline .
Suge “Marion” Knight, 49, was hit with a volley of bullets in the early Sunday morning hours at 1Oak in West Hollywood. Video surfaced at the moment shots rang out, but it was not clear who fired the weapon. Two others sustained gunshot wounds but are expected to recover.
Chris Brown appeared to be involved in an altercation with someone at the time, which led many to believe the would-be assassins were targeting him. Police investigators have not spoken with the singer but intend to take a statement from him, according to his attorney.
Surprisingly, after being shot with at least six rounds, Suge Knight casually walked outside the nightclub and sat in the rear of a police cruiser parked outside. Moments later, he was seen being carried away to an ambulance by paramedics, and then transported to Cedars Sinai Hospital. There, he underwent surgery and was placed in intensive care.
On Monday, in wake of the party shooting, the rap mogul’s family released an update on Knight’s recovery and a statement appealing for prayers.
The family of Suge Knight asks that you keep Suge in your prayers and to stray away from the negativity portrayed by the media. 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.”
Knight is no stranger to law enforcement and assaults on his person. In 2005, Suge was shot in the leg, ironically, at another pre-VMAs party in Miami hosted by Kanye West. Additionally, in 1996, Suge Knight was the same car with Tupac Shakur on the night unknown gunman shot and killed the rapper in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
Pac’s shooting remains unsolved, but rumors abound that suggest Knight ordered the killing of East Coast rapper, Notorious B.I.G., in retaliation for his alleged hit on Tupac.
In a startling development, Biggie’s attorney, Perry Sanders, said the LAPD (under the leadership of Chief Charlie Beck) is behind the Brown, Suge Knight murder attempt.
This is truly an indictment of LAPD and the city. Los Angeles is a fabulous city that deserves better from its leaders. The victim’s family hopes to one day see justice.
The prominent lawyer’s stance is based on testimony gathered at trial as part of a wrongful death lawsuit the late rapper’s family filed against the police department. Apparently, three detectives testified that, despite evidence against Suge Knight, no indictment was handed down.
Although the information is compelling, the department is not in the jurisdiction where the shooting of Suge Knight took place in this latest wave of violence.
[Image: Greg DeGuire via The Guardian]