Court records from the February hearing have been revealed for the first time and the transcripts claim that Suge Knight made violent threats to Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray. Suge, who is affiliated with the Mob Piru set of the Bloods gang, was angry at Gray for the way he was being depicted in the movie and that he was not being compensated for his story being used in the film. The Los Angeles Times reported on the alleged threats, which evidently intimidated Gray enough to not remember any of the incidents when questioned in court.
“I can’t say I remember being threatened by him specifically,” Gray said, according to court records. However, detectives claim they do know about the menacing threats that Suge made to Gray. Apparently, Gray received phone calls while he was on the set of Straight Outta Compton, but he hung up on the caller. That phone call was followed by several voicemails and text messages.
“I will see u in person … u have kids just like me so let’s play hardball,” Knight allegedly wrote to Gray. “I’m from Bomton,” Knight wrote, using Bloods slang. “I’m a Blood criminal street gang member from the city of Compton… Time has arrived Faith in God keep ppl safe. The Devil’s Money can’t save No 1.” The message ended with a pair of expletives and a racial slur, according to court records.
On numerous occasions during the hearing, Gray claimed he couldn’t remember any of the phone calls, text messages or voicemails from Knight. Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Barnes told the grand jury that Gray was clearly frightened by the threats and was lying under oath. “He’s perjuring himself because he’s that afraid.”
According to testimony given by detectives, Suge also wrote that he would “make sure” Gray as well as N.W.A. members Andre Young (Dr. Dre) and O’Shea Jackson (Ice Cube) would receive “hugs,” slang for physical violence.
Suge Knight was eventually indicted by grand jurors on charges of threatening Gray with death or great bodily injury. Knight is currently awaiting trial on those charges and separate robbery and homicide cases in Los Angeles County. Knight has denied the accusations of threatening Gray as well as the homicide charges against him.
[Uproxx]