Friday, June 24, 2011

Diddy and Shyne Settle with 1999 Shooting Victims


Back in 1999 when Diddy was known as Puffy and Jennifer Lopez was known as J.Lo and they were the hottest couple in hip hop, Diddy went through one of the biggest [and there were several] scandals in his career. It was two days after Christmas and Diddy had just signed Shyne Barrow to Bad Boy Records...


Diddy, J.Lo, Shyne and Diddy's bodyguard Wolf had gone to New York nightclub Times Square to celebrate Shyne's signing. Inside the club Diddy and his circle were popping bottles when a hoodstar named Matthew "Scar" Allen threw money in Diddy's face and told him he wasn't shit. There was a heated exchange and Shyne pulled out a gun and shot the club up. Three people were hit. One girl in the face. That night signaled the end of Diddy and J.Lo.

Diddy was indicted on stolen weapons and bribery charges and Shyne was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree.

Diddy was represented by Johnny Cochran and found not guilty. Shyne was repped by Ian Niles, found guilty and did ten years in prison and was deported to Belize as soon as he finished his sentence.

The three shooting victims filed civil suits against Diddy, Shyne and the club owners. Natania Reuben, who was shot in face, asked for $130 million in her original suit filed in 2008. Her actual settlement was not nearly as much.

According to the NY Post Natania was recently paid $1.8 million and the other two victims received $500,000 and $50,000.

Shyne and the club owner's portion of the settle was paid by their insurance companies but Diddy had to pay out of pocket because the insurance company he was using has since gone out of business.