Almost 25 years ago, three NYPD detectives were called to the Midtown North precinct in the early hours of a cold winter night. At that time, rap impresario Sean Combs, his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, and his bodyguard, Jamal “Shyne” Barrow, were arrested after a shooting in a Times Square club left three bystanders wounded. The sensational trial that followed the incident in early 2001 is now back in the spotlight, with law enforcement sources suggesting that the shooting and trial could be re-investigated as part of a federal probe into Combs, now known as Diddy, due to his past involving mysterious shootings.
Recently, Homeland Security agents conducted raids at Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami based on sex trafficking allegations, prompting speculation that the infamous shooting and trial may also be re-examined in the investigation. A lawsuit filed by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones accusing Combs of repeated sexual assault and other charges further intensifies the scrutiny on the music mogul, especially in relation to the Club New York shooting. Jones compared Combs to Jeffrey Epstein and accused him of violent behavior and engaging in illegal activities resembling those of Epstein.
The Club New York shooting, which occurred after an argument between Combs and a Brooklyn thug named Matthew Allen, resulted in Combs, his bodyguard, Anthony Jones, and Shyne Barrow facing a 7-week trial in 2001. Shyne was ultimately convicted on assault and gun possession charges, while Combs and Jones were acquitted. Former Detective Derrick Parker, who investigated the incident, has suggested that Combs may have manipulated Shyne to take the fall for the shooting. Allegations from victims and witnesses have added layers of complexity to the case, with ongoing speculation about Combs’s involvement and actions during and after the shooting.
Jones, in his lawsuit, claimed that Combs verbally admitted to being responsible for the nightclub shooting and hinted at using Lopez to smuggle a gun into the club. However, Combs has vehemently denied these allegations through his attorneys, who have described the federal raids and investigation as a witchhunt. Witnesses from the 2001 trial have also come forward to defend Combs and dispute the claims made by Jones. Despite the passage of time, the circumstances surrounding the Club New York shooting remain shrouded in mystery, and federal investigators are now exploring the possibility of re-examining the case.
Another incident likely to be re-examined is a 2022 shooting at the Chalice recording studio in Los Angeles, where Jones claims Combs and his son, Justin Combs, were involved in a dispute that led to a shooting. Jones alleges that Combs instructed him to lie to the police about the circumstances of the shooting, further complicating the legal challenges faced by Combs. With a series of allegations and investigations swirling around him, Combs finds himself embroiled in a complex web of legal and personal challenges that threaten to overshadow his successful music career. The ongoing federal probe and lawsuits filed against him have raised questions about the truth behind Combs’s actions and potential legal consequences.
