LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) – Rap Mogul Marion “Suge” Knight was charged with murder and attempted murder on Monday in connection with an incident. Prosecutors said he ran over two men in a Southern California parking lot last week, killing one of them.
The 49-year-old co-founder of influential hip hop label Death Row Records was charged with one count each murder and attempted murder and two counts of felony hit and run.
Knight was taken into custody on suspicion of murder on Friday after surrendering to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.
According to sheriff’s officials, the incident began when Knight and two other people began arguing in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in Compton, south of downtown Los Angeles. They began throwing punches at each other through the window of the rap tycoon’s Ford F-15 Raptor pickup before he put the vehicle in reverse and knocking the man to the ground.
Knight then pulled forward, running over one victim and striking the second before leaving the scene. The 55-year-old victim, Terry Carter, later died
The music executive, who has served time in prison, was also considered at risk of intimidating witnesses.
