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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Lawyers for a Los Angeles-based rapper filed a $10 million claim against Los Angeles County Wednesday, alleging sheriff's deputies threatened to shoot and kill him as he sat alone in his car on New Year's Eve.
Feezy Lebron's claim, a possible forerunner to a lawsuit, states that at about 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, he was in his car in a Gardena parking lot waiting to meet a friend, listening to music and live streaming to his fans on Instagram when deputies drove up and shined a flashlight at his car.
One deputy opened the driver's side door, grabbed Lebron by the arm and tried to pull him out, the claim states. Moments later, a second deputy walked up, pulled out a canister of pepper spray and said he was going to spray the rapper, the claim states.
The same deputy took out his gun, pointed it at Lebron's chest and repeatedly threatened to shoot him as the singer sat with his hands raised, according to the claim.
The deputy allegedly told Lebron, "Move your hands from right there and you're done," the claim states.
The deputy also said, "You take off in this car, I'm gonna shoot you" and "You put this car in drive, you're getting one right to the chest," the claim states.
When Lebron asked the deputy if he was going to shoot him, the deputy allegedly said, "Absolutely," according to the claim.
Lebron was later taken out of his car, handcuffed and detained him for about 30 minutes while deputies searched the vehicle, then subsequently released him with a citation for a missing front license plate, the claim states.
Lebron, who was traumatized by the incident, continues to suffer panic attacks, is unable to sleep and is afraid to drive, the claim states.
Lebron, whose real name is Darral Scott, coaches his son's youth football team and volunteers as a counselor with a Compton-based non-profit focusing on gang intervention, feeding the homeless and toy drives, the claim states.
The LASD previously released a statement stating the encounter was being investigated.
"While the department does not make statements related to ongoing investigations, Sheriff (Robert) Luna has made it clear that he expects department personnel to treat all members of the public with dignity and respect and that personnel who do not uphold our training standards will be held accountable," the statement further read.