Kanye West Facing Felony Charge After Assaulting Paparazzi?
Kanye West, the 36-year-old rapper, is the subject of a battery investigation that may lead to a felony charge after allegedly physically assaulting a member of the paparazzi Friday.
West was about to leave LAX airport Friday when members of the paparazzi surrounded him to take pictures. One man is reported to have continually hounded West with questions, with the rapper telling him to stop, according to TMZ.
After the paparazzi refused to stop hounding the rapper, West turned and allegedly attacked the man, attempting to grab his camera equipment and wrestling him to the floor. West then left in a waiting vehicle with the incident captured by TMZ cameras.
The case has since been transferred to the Robbery Homicide Unit after the man suffered injuries stemming from West's attack. TMZ is reporting that the member of the paparazzi is pressing charges against West and that the case is being referred to the L.A. County D.A. which could lead to a possible prosecution.
Earlier this month, West made headlines for a similar run-in with the paparazzi after he warned them not to speak to him.
"Don't talk to me! I don't want to hear paparazzi talk to me or anybody I know," West said to the paparazzi member. "Don't talk to me, at all and don't talk to anyone I know ... never talk!"
Last month, the father who shares a new baby girl with reality television star Kim Kardashian snapped at photographers in a similar rant while out with his girlfriend's mother Kris Jenner. The X17Online photographer has said that he simply was wishing West well on his new bundle of joy, but the rapper did not want members of the paparazzi speaking to him.
"Don't say anything," West ordered, according to TMZ. "You know what I'm saying, don't talk to me!"
