Judge Rules Rapper's Suit Alleging Deputy Threatened to Shoot Him Can Proceed

A rapper's lawsuit alleging Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies threatened to shoot and kill him as he sat alone in his car in Gardena was filed within the statutory limits, a judge has ruled.

During an Oct. 10 hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Thomas D. Long found that Feezy Lebron's complaint was filed as of Sept. 15, 2023, just two days before the deadline for filing it expired under the state Government Code. The code requires that cases be brought within six months after a legal claim is rejected.

County attorneys argued in their court papers that the suit was actually filed 10 days later and was properly rejected under state Code of Civil Procedure. The lawyers also maintained the complaint did not comply with applicable filing requirements and that the rapper did not bring a corrected version in time.

Long disagreed and that state filing rules prevail over local regulations.

"The only defect in the plaintiff's filing was an incorrect mark on the civil case cover sheet ... a local form and local requirement," the judge wrote, adding that the Sept. 15, 2023, filing was "improperly rejected for this error."

According to Lebron's lawsuit, on Dec. 31, 2022, he was in his car in a parking lot on Crenshaw Boulevard waiting to meet a friend, listening to music and live streaming to his fans on Instagram when deputies arrived and lit up his car with a flashlight.

One deputy opened the driver's side door, grabbed Lebron — whose real name is Darral Scott — by the arm and tried to pull him out, the lawsuit 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 suit states. The same deputy pointed a gun at Lebron's chest and threatened to shoot him even though the rapper had raised his hands, telling the plaintiff, "Move your hands from right there and you're done," the suit states.

Body camera footage of the entire encounter recorded the deputy saying, "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," according to the complaint.

Lebron was later taken out of his car, handcuffed and detained for about 30 minutes while deputies searched the vehicle, then subsequently released him with a citation for a missing front license plate, the suit states.

The allegedly aggressive deputy is a person of influence in either the Grim Reapers or another deputy internal clique and his partner was also either involved with a deputy gang or trying to obtain membership, the suit states.

Lebron's suit alleges civil rights violations, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery by a peace officer. The rapper seeks unspecified damages.

In their court papers, attorneys for the county deny Lebron's allegations and say the county has immunity from the causes of action.