Former rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight, who is awaiting trial on murder and attempted murder charges for allegedly running over two men in Compton, is scheduled to be arraigned today on a felony charge of criminal threats stemming from the alleged robbery of a camera from a paparazzo in Beverly Hills.
The latest charge alleges that Knight made criminal threats against the female photographer on Sept. 5 — the same date of the alleged robbery. He was charged in the robbery case last year, along with comedian Micah “Katt” Williams.
Knight, 49, remains jailed without bail while awaiting a March 20 bail hearing on the murder case. He is charged with one count each of murder and attempted murder and two counts of hit-and-run for allegedly running down two men in Compton on Jan. 29, killing one and injuring the other following an argument.
He was initially held in lieu of $2 million bail, which was revoked Feb. 2 because he was deemed a possible flight risk and a three-strikes candidate. According to the Sheriff’s Department, “possible witness intimidation issues and a criminal past” were also factors.
Knight allegedly drove his pickup truck backward and forward, killing Terry Carter, 55, and injuring 51-year-old Cle Stone, at 2:55 p.m. Jan. 29 in the parking lot of Tam’s Burgers in the 1200 block of West Rosecrans Avenue near Central Avenue.
Lt. John Corina, a sheriff’s homicide detective, said investigators believe Knight intentionally struck the men and that he was not acting out of a reasonable fear.
Corina said Knight had gotten into an argument at a film shoot for a promotional video for “Straight Out of Compton,” a biopic of the Compton rap group N.W.A. Knight was told to leave. The argument resumed about 20 minutes later at the eatery about three miles away.
Knight’s attorney at the time, James Blatt, confirmed Knight was behind the wheel of the pickup that struck the men, but said he acted out of fear in trying to escape from as many as four people who attacked him. Blatt also claimed that Knight had been unaware that he hit two men with the pickup, which was later found in a Westwood parking lot.
The criminal complaint against Knight, who could be incarcerated for life if convicted in the murder case, includes an allegation that he committed a serious and violent felony while out on bail in an unrelated robbery case, as well as use of a deadly weapon and causing great bodily injury allegations.
Knight has prior convictions, making this a third-strike case, according to the complaint.
