Jeezy Named In Wrongful Death Suit

The family of a concert promoter who was killed at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in 2014 is suing Jeezy, Live Nation, Def Jam and NBP companies, saying the rapper is responsible.

Owen Sweeney – Young Jeezy
“Power 99 POWERHOUSE,” Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

The suit, filed in a California court by the victim’s children and their guardian, cites eyewitness accounts of a shooter who “eerily resembled” Jeezy.

Jeezy performed at the “Under the Influence of Music” at the Shoreline Aug. 22, 2014, along with Wiz Khalifa, Rich Homie Quan, and Shoreline Amphitheatre. According to the plaintiffs, Eric Johnson Jr., a well-known Bay Area promoter, booked Jeezy for an after-party at a San Jose nightclub and paid half the fee up front.

After attempting to finalize logistics, the suit claims Johnson was unable to reach Jeezy’s people to confirm the appearance and thus showed up to the venue to confirm the artist’s plan and provide transportation.

The suit alleges that no security measures were in place to prevent artists or their entourages from bringing weapons onto the premises.  On a related note, police searched Jeezy’s bus several days later in Irvine, Calif., and took him in for unlawful possession of firearms, but those charges were dropped.

Once on the premises, Johnson was waiting backstage to talk to Jeezy when an unknown assailant walked up to his car and fired, the suit alleges. When Johnson ran out of the car, the assailant allegedly continued firing at Johnson, bringing him to the ground. The assailant then stood over the victim and executed him.

The suit provides the testimony of two witnesses, one of whom is quoted as saying under oath, “the shooter looked like Young Jeezy.”

Jeezy definitely does rap about violence in his music, and the suit says that LN and NBP “should have known that many of the rap artists they selected, promoted and hired to perform at the Shoreline Amphitheatre [on the night in question] are known to attract violent and unruly crowds at their concerts and shows.”

The charges are for negligence, liability and wrongful death, and the damages sought include lost wages, funeral and burial expenses, and legal fees.

Live Nation doesn’t usually comment on ongoing litigation.