Suge Knight Rushed To The Hospital After Pleading Not Guilty To Murder

Suge Knight was rushed to a hospital Tuesday morning after pleading not guilty to murder and attempted murder, sources told the Daily News.

The co-founder of Death Row records wore an orange jail jumpsuit and shackles as he answered to his name in court but said little during his brief arraignment in Compton, Calif.

Minutes after the hearing ended, the hulking murder suspect suffered a “medical condition” that landed him in an ambulance taking him for “further medical evaluation,” a source with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told the Daily News.

Unidentified sources told TMZ.com that Knight suffered chest pains related to a panic attack.

“I don’t think he was feeling great, but I’m not sure about the specifics,” Knight’s lawyer David Kenner told the News. He headed to the hospital to check on Knight.

The medical call came in about 9:40 a.m., according to a law enforcement source.

It was just an hour earlier that Knight appeared in court with Kenner and stared out at the gallery with no emotion.

Kenner, who has a long history with Death Row records, entered the not guilty plea and spoke to reporters outside the hearing before learning Knight was picked up by paramedics.

He said Knight was “remorseful” that victim Terry Carter, 55, died after being struck by his truck Thursday, but he maintained his client was not to blame.

“(Knight) was being attacked and was trying to get away from that attack,” Kenner said outside court.

“He feels bad that somebody is deceased, (but) it’s not his fault,” the silver-haired lawyer said.

Carter’s brother-in-law Dwight Haswell attended the hearing but did not get to see Knight in court.

“I’m here to support our family,” he said to the News after the hearing.

Asked if the family agreed with prosecutors’ decision to charge Knight with murder, he nodded.

“We’re still trying to ascertain what happened. But given the gravity of Mr. Knight’s disposition toward life forms in general – and his past – that’s the way it feels to us,” he said.

Knight has been in custody since his arrest early Friday.

His hefty $2 million bail was revoked Monday after homicide detectives argued he was a flight risk, a candidate for three strikes and someone who might try to intimidate witnesses.

Prosecutors formally charged the cigar-chomping former rap impresario with one count of murder, one count of attempted murder and two counts of hit-and-run with an added allegation he committed a violent felony while out on bail in his pending felony robbery case, the Los Angeles District Attorney said.

Authorities say Knight, 49, was driving his tricked-out Ford F-150 Raptor truck Thursday afternoon when he mowed down two victims – Carter and former gang member-turned-actor Cle “Bone” Sloan – while they were standing in the parking lot of a Compton burger stand.

Sloan was transported to a hospital with injuries to his legs and head.

“He has a very badly mangled left foot,” lawyer Michael Shapiro said outside court after Knight’s arraignment.

Shapiro said he was monitoring the case for Sloan to determine possible civil liability.

“He’s a pretty upset and depressed guy, thinking his career could be over,” Shapiro said, referring to Sloan. “He’s completely in shock right now, he’s processing.”

Shapiro said Sloan had “nothing to hide” and was a victim, despite claims by Knight’s prior defense lawyer that Sloan was the aggressor.



“A 165-pound guy against a car is not a fair fight,” Shapiro said.

If convicted as charged, Knight could spend life in jail, the Los Angeles County District Attorney said.

Police say witnesses have described Knight getting into a confrontation with two men in the parking lot of Tam's Burgers about 3 p.m. Thursday.

Knight allegedly remained in his truck as he reversed into one victim, knocking the man down, and then punched the gas to run back over the first victim and ram the second victim, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide investigator told the Daily News.

Lt. John Corina said the deadly incident unfolded about 30 minutes after Knight was involved in an argument on the set of a nearby video shoot related to upcoming NWA biopic “Straight Outta Compton.”

Knight has claimed he was under attack by four men – including one who tried to pull him out of his truck – and that he only gunned his tank-like truck to escape, a source close to Knight revealed to The News on Monday.

“He was trying to get away to safety and did not realize he hit anyone,” the source said. “He was just shot a few months ago and feared for his life.”

Kenner said Tuesday that he and his partner Brett Greenfield replaced the prior attorney on the case, James Blatt, late Monday. He declined to give a reason for the shakeup.

Detectives, meanwhile, have recovered video related to the incident and were reviewing it over the weekend, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said.


Kenner said he received some discovery from authorities Tuesday but that he still did not have any video.

Knight is due back in Compton court Feb. 9 for a bail motion hearing.


The first judge scheduled to hear Knight’s arraignment Tuesday recused himself saying he previously represented one or both of the victims in cases when he was a lawyer.

Suge was like this …..