Diddy and Bodyguard Facing Lawsuit for 1996 Assault Near NYC Nightclub
Sean “Diddy” Combs and his bodyguards are under legal scrutiny from a man in Atlanta who claims they assaulted him.
The plaintiff, DeWitt Gilmore, filed a suit in federal court in New York on Sunday, alleging that Combs and his security attacked him outside a New York City venue in 1996, as reported by YSL News on Thursday.
This legal action arises during a wave of sexual assault allegations against the prominent music figure.
Gilmore asserts that the altercation transpired in the summer of 1996 after he and two companions exited a nightclub and were heading to his vehicle. He alleges that Combs drove up, verbally taunted him, and made violent threats.
According to Gilmore, the situation escalated when armed members of Combs’ team arrived and obstructed his vehicle. Allegedly, gunfire erupted, prompting Gilmore and his friends to flee the scene.
YSL News has reached out to Diddy’s representatives for a response.
Gilmore claims they were “running for their lives,” chased through the streets of New York City and narrowly escaped what he describes as a life-threatening ambush. He does not clarify if he or his friends sustained any gunshot injuries during the event.
He is seeking a jury trial and $5 million for “emotional trauma, physical injuries, lost opportunities, and damage to his reputation.”
Initially worried about “ongoing harassment and potential violent backlash,” Gilmore claims that a recent discussion with one of his companions from that night has provided “new insights and testimonial evidence.”
His lawyers have filed to “reopen the case beyond the standard statute of limitations,” citing newly discovered evidence and “unique circumstances of intimidation and safety issues that delayed prior actions.” In New York, victims typically have one year to file civil assault and battery cases.
This lawsuit is part of a larger trend of legal claims alleging years of sexual and physical abuse against Combs, who is currently detained in the Special Housing Unit at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center following his arrest in September for charges related to sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for a criminal trial on May 5.
The founder of Bad Boy Records has faced multiple legal issues since the 1990s, a trend that appears to culminate in his current legal battles. These issues range from violent behavior at concerts to threats aimed at a record executive and TV host, alongside the notorious 1999 nightclub shooting incident in New York City involving Jennifer Lopez and Shyne.