Rap legend Marion “Suge” Knight was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a fatal hit-and-run. Los Angeles authorities said “a man matching Knight’s description” backed into Terry Carter and Cle Cloan with his vehicle. He then drove forward over both men as he fled the scene.
Cloan was rushed to a local hospital and is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Carter was pronounced dead at the scene..
As reported by CNN , the altercation began on the set of Straight Outta Compton . Witnesses said Knight arrived at the movie set in a red Ford Raptor. As production had wrapped up for the day, security guards asked him to leave.
Witnesses said Knight refused to leave and began arguing with two other men. Although he eventually left the set, the altercation continued in the Tom’s Burgers parking lot.
Los Angeles police Lt. John Corina said the argument came to an abrupt stop when Knight got into his truck and intentionally struck Carter and Cloan.
“So far, people we talked to said it looked like it was an intentional act. So we’re handling it as a homicide… It looks like he drove backward and struck the victims. And then went forward and struck them again as he left.”
Following the assault, authorities issued a “be on the lookout” for the suspect. They further warned that Knight “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
As reported by TMZ , the suspect turned himself in early Friday morning. Following a police interview, Suge Knight was arrested and charged with murder. He is currently being held at the West Hollywood Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on $2 million bond.
A native of Compton, California, Marion Hugh Knight Jr. attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on a football scholarship. Although he later played for the Los Angeles Rams, Knight eventually left the field to pursue a career in the music industry.
In 1991, Knight co-founded Death Row Records with The D.O.C., Dr. Dre, and Dick Griffey. As reported by Biography , he also founded Club 662 in Las Vegas, and opened a car hydraulics business.
Although he found great success as an entrepreneur, Suge Knight had numerous run-ins with the law. His prior arrests include charges of assault, attempted murder, robbery, weapons possession, and several probation violations.
*Update* Suge Knight arrested for murder in connection to fatal traffic incident in #Compton Booked at @WHDLASD Station held on $2M bail
— LA County Sheriff (@LASDHQ) January 30, 2015
Knight’s attorney, James Blatt, confirmed that Knight was driving the vehicle, which was involved in the fatal hit and run. However, Blatt said his client did not intend to harm anyone. As reported by BET , the attorney said he is “confident that once the investigation is completed, [Knight] will be totally exonerated .”
Although Suge Knight was arrested and charged with murder, it is unclear why the men were arguing. Some witnesses have suggested that Carter “instigated the incident” and Knight fled the scene to avoid further confrontation.
[Image via BET ]