In 1999, Sean “Diddy” Combs, then 31, was arrested following a nightclub shooting in New York that took place in 1991. At the time, Diddy was accompanied by his bodyguard Anthony “Wolf”, 21-year-old rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrows, and his girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, who was 30 years old.
The Nightclub Shooting Incident
The incident began with a disagreement and escalated into a shooting that left three people injured. Both Sean Combs and Jamal “Shyne” Barrows faced multiple charges, but Combs was later acquitted. However, the most severely injured victim, Natania Reuben, has consistently maintained that it was Diddy who shot her in the face. Reuben stated in an interview, “I saw him, I witnessed it with my own eyes,” and was willing to have doctors remove part of the 9 mm bullet from her face to be used as evidence.
In 2008, Natania Reuben filed a $130 million lawsuit against Combs, seeking damages for the incident. The case was settled out of court in June 2011. Despite the settlement, Reuben remained firm in her accusation, continuing to claim that Diddy was responsible for the shooting.
Jennifer Lopez’s Involvement and Arrest
Following the nightclub brawl, Diddy left the scene with Jennifer Lopez and Jones, but they were soon pursued by police. Authorities found a stolen gun in the vehicle, leading to the arrest of all three. Initially, both Combs and Lopez were charged with possession of stolen property, but the charges against Lopez were eventually dropped. Diddy and Jamal Barrow were sent to court, with Diddy also facing a bribery charge for allegedly offering the car’s driver $50,000 to claim ownership of the gun.
Jennifer Lopez Reflects on the Incident
Jennifer Lopez has rarely spoken about the shooting incident, but in a brief interview, she described it as a “complete nightmare.” She said, “I had no idea what was happening. None of us did.” The event marked a chaotic chapter in both Lopez’s and Combs’ lives, making headlines for years to come.
The New York nightclub shooting involving Jennifer Lopez and Diddy remains one of the most infamous moments in their relationship. While Diddy was acquitted of the charges, the incident left a lasting impact on the people involved and became a pivotal moment in both their careers.