Busta Rhymes investigated for murder of his bodyguard
source:New York Daily News
Rap star Busta Rhymes was being grilled by cops last night about the unsolved murder of his bodyguard after being busted for assaulting a man at a Randalls Island concert, a police source said.
Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, was arrested at about 8 p.m. as he and his entourage tried to flee the East River island.
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At least two members of Rhymes’ crew were also taken into custody.
Cops said Rhymes, 34, was being investigated for assaulting a concert-goer identified as Roberto Lebron, who may have spat on Rhymes’ car after the rapper’s 5 p.m. performance at the Heineken AmsterJam Festival that also featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, LL Cool J and the Foo Fighters.
A police source said Rhymes tried to bolt off the island after getting a tip he was about to be arrested. Cops quickly headed him off at the pass at about 8 p.m., the source said.
The rapper and actor was questioned for a few hours last night at the 13th Precinct stationhouse on E. 21st St. near Second Ave. before leaving with his entourage.
Details of the assault were sketchy.
But the incident offered detectives a golden opportunity to interview Rhymes about the Feb. 5 slaying of his bodyguard, Israel Ramirez, a source said.
“I don’t know if this is normally something he would even be arrested for,” said a police source. “But his bodyguard was killed and he didn’t want to cooperate.
“This is our way of dealing with it.”
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President of Bodyguards Careers Harlan Austin has acquired over 25 years of field experience as an Executive Protection Specialist, seven years of which he served as Director of Security Services for Paisley Park Productions.


