Reports of "Suge" Knight's Death False, Deputies Say

Sheriff’s deputies swatted down rumors roiling the Internet today, and said Death Row Records founder Marion “Suge” Knight remained jailed for suspicion of murder, awaiting a scheduled Tuesday court appearance.

Internet search engines indicated the false report was a popular meme. Social media lit up with it, and authoritative-looking Internet sites reinforced unverified and fake reports that Knight had been found dead.

The stories were not true, deputies said.

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The music impresario remained in a lockup at the Men’s Central Jail, near downtown, and was scheduled to appear in court sometime after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. His attorney, James Blatt, has said his client is not expected to make his $2 million bail until Monday at the earliest.

Knight, 49, allegedly ran over two men, reportedly twice, at 2:55 p.m. Thursday with a pickup truck. The incident, at a Compton burger stand, left Terry Carter, 55, dead and a second man injured.

The alleged murder and Knight’s surrender and jailing have created Los Angeles’ newest tabloid celebrity sensation.

The web site TMZ.com reported that surveillance cameras at the Tam’s Hamburgers crime scene were broken, and that cameras at a nearby bank, drug store and a competing fast-food outlet were pointing away from the crime scene.

Sheriff’s deputies, however, have said they have video of the dispute.

Knight’s lawyers have told reporters their client was protecting himself while being slugged while sitting in his pickup truck’s cab. Detectives said Knight intentionally drove over Carter and two man, hitting Carter in two separate vehicular attacks.

• City News Service
• Photo Credit: Patch Archive