Influential hip-hop producer Marion “Suge” Knight was hospitalized shortly after pleading not guilty Tuesday to murder and attempted murder charges following a deadly hit-and-run in Compton.
Knight, 49, was complaining of chest pain, according to Jay Gardner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Celebrity gossip website TMZ.com reported Knight had a panic attack, publishing images showing an ambulance leaving the Compton courthouse where he entered his not-guilty plea.
Knight is a three-strikes candidate and faces life in prison if convicted.
The Death Row Records founder turned himself into a sheriff’s deputies at a West Hollywood station early Friday and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was charged with both crimes Monday, as well as two counts of hit-and-run.
Knight intentionally struck two men with his truck outside a Compton restaurant following an argument, a homicide lieutenant said.
Terry Carter, 55, whom Knight’s lawyer described as the mogul’s old friend, was killed.
Actor Cle “Bone” Sloan was also struck. His attorney said Sloan was no longer hospitalized but was under nursing care and had “personal protection.”
“He’s worried about ‘what’s going to happen to my life, my career?'” Sloan’s lawyer Michael Shapiro said. “I don’t know if he is going to walk again.”
The lawyer said Knight was trying to escape an attack when he accidentally hit the men, but Sheriff’s Department investigators said the attack appeared to be intentional.
“It looks like he drove backward and struck the victims and then went forward and struck them again as he left,” Sheriff’s Department Lt. John Corina said Friday. “It looked like it was an intentional act and would be treated as a homicide.”
Knight was out on bail in relation to a separate robbery case when the fatal hit-and-run took place. In the September incident, Knight and comedian Micah “Katt” Williams were accused of stealing a photographer’s camera in Beverly Hills.
Because of the pending case, Knight was also charged Monday with one count of committing a serious and violent felony while out on bail.
Knight’s bail was originally set at $2.025 million, but was revoked Monday because he was considered a flight risk and three-strikes candidate.
He was being held at the Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, county inmate records indicated.
He was expected back in court Feb. 9, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office tweeted.
KTLA’s Melissa Pamer contributed to this article.
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