Sheriff's deputies executed a search warrant at the Hollywood Hills home of rapper YG Thursday morning in connection with a pursuit and deadly shootout that left one person dead on July 3.
Authorities say Rickie Cornell Starks, 65, of Compton, was fatally shot at around 11:20 p.m. at the corner of Spruce Street and Aranbe Avenue after getting caught in the crossfire between the fleeing SUV and the pursuing deputies.
Deputies from Compton's sheriff's station initiated the pursuit of the Cadillac registered to the rapper for suspected reckless driving or DUI on July 3. As the Escalade fled police, one of the occupants on the passenger side of the vehicle used a high-powered rifle to fire several shots at a sheriff's department helicopter, possibly striking the aircraft, Deputy Grace Medrano, a spokesperson for the department said. The suspects bailed out of the SUV, fleeing on foot. Deputies caught up with one suspect, who was arrested, while at least one other suspect and the assault rifle used in the shootout were not found.
According to a sheriff's department statement:
"Investigators can confirm that the information being widely reported regarding the suspect vehicle being registered to Keenon Jackson, AKA 'YG,' is accurate. The 2018 black Cadillac Escalade is reportedly a company car registered in the name of Keenon Jackson with an address in Sherman Oaks ... Sheriff's Homicide Bureau will not be commenting further regarding Mr. Jackson or the vehicle at this time, as this is an ongoing criminal investigation."
One of the cars involved in the was armored and had bullet-proof windows installed. The vehicle is reportedly registered to YG.
The identity of the person arrested has not been released.
It's not yet known whether the rapper is facing any charges, related to the pursuit and shooting. YG has previously denied any link to the shootout and pursuit, writing on Twitter that "I was nowhere near the scene of this incident, I was in Hollywood recording in the studio all day. I was there until after midnight on the 4th of July and didn't learn of these events until after they happened!"
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