Drakeo the Ruler.Photo: Timothy Norris/WireImage
A wrongful death suit has been filed in thefatal stabbingof Los Angeles rapperDrakeo the Ruler, claiming that organizers of the music festival at which he was killed should have known to amp up backstage security.
Drakeo (whose real name was Darrell Caldwell) was scheduled to perform at the Once Upon a Time in LA music festival on Dec. 18 when he was attacked backstage and suffered a fatal stab wound to the neck.
“Once Upon a Time in LA joins Drakeo’s family, friends, and fans in grieving his loss,” the festival told PEOPLE in a statement. “The festival is continuing to support local authorities in their investigation as they pursue the facts.”
After serving three years in jail, Drakeo, 28, was acquitted of charges relating to the murder of a member of the Bloods gang, according to the suit. Despite his exoneration, the defendants should have known that his safety was at risk, is it was widely known that certain gang members “had rejected the acquittal,” and “sought to exact ‘street justice’” against the rapper, the suit claims.
Drakeo the Ruler and girlfriend Noel Bianca.Noel Bianca/Instagram
Drakeo was taken to the hospital after several minutes, and died of his injuries hours later.
The suit alleges that festival organizers did not have any police presence backstage, and did not provide security escorts for artists to get to and from their performances, which contributed to Drakeo’s death.
“[His death] was a result of a complete and abject failure of all Defendants to implement proper safety measures in order to ensure the safety and well being of the artists whom they invited and hired to their music festival,” reads the suit, which seeks damages in excess of $25 million.
50 Cent and Snoop Dogg were set to perform at the music festival as headliners, but show organizers ended the night early in the aftermath of the stabbing.
source: people.com
