Death of Chris Lighty Ruled a Suicide

Chris Lighty attends the Artist Managers From A - Z Event.

New York City medical examiners have officially ruled the death of Chris Lighty a suicide, the Daily News reports. The influential hip-hop manager died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on Thursday at the age of 44. 

Lighty was found dead in the back yard of his Bronx home, where he had reportedly been arguing with his estranged wife, Veronica Lighty. Veronica Lighty told the Daily News that her husband, who had made millions in endorsement deals for artists including 50 Cent, LL Cool J and Missy Elliot, was suffering from financial stress. Sources said he owed more than $300,000 to the IRS in unpaid state and federal taxes.

"He was in a lot of pain and he possibly had some financial difficulties," said family friend Norman Downes.

Lighty, whose clients included hip-hop and pop megastars like Busta Rhymes, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Mariah Carey, has been the subject of wide-ranging tributes among his music-industry peers in the days following his death.

"RIP Chris Lighty," Russell Simmons tweeted. "Today, we lost a hip-hop hero and one of its greatest architects..."

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Death of Chris Lighty Ruled a Suicide

Chris Lighty attends the Artist Managers From A - Z Event.

New York City medical examiners have officially ruled the death of Chris Lighty a suicide, the Daily News reports. The influential hip-hop manager died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on Thursday at the age of 44. 

Lighty was found dead in the back yard of his Bronx home, where he had reportedly been arguing with his estranged wife, Veronica Lighty. Veronica Lighty told the Daily News that her husband, who had made millions in endorsement deals for artists including 50 Cent, LL Cool J and Missy Elliot, was suffering from financial stress. Sources said he owed more than $300,000 to the IRS in unpaid state and federal taxes.

"He was in a lot of pain and he possibly had some financial difficulties," said family friend Norman Downes.

Lighty, whose clients included hip-hop and pop megastars like Busta Rhymes, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Mariah Carey, has been the subject of wide-ranging tributes among his music-industry peers in the days following his death.

"RIP Chris Lighty," Russell Simmons tweeted. "Today, we lost a hip-hop hero and one of its greatest architects..."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Whitney Houston Death Likely to Be Ruled Accidental

Whitney Houston accepts the International Favorite Artist Award at the 2009 American Music Awards.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Whitney Houston's death on February 11th is expected to be ruled an accident. Sources close to the ongoing investigation of the singer's death have told E! News that "nothing suspicious" has been found to connect the circumstances of her death to any physicians or people of interest.

"She had no marks on her body whatsoever to indicate a struggle, and she was the furthest thing from trying to kill herself," the source told E! News. Full toxicology results will not be ready until next week, and until then, police will not officially comment on the case.

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Whitney Houston Death Likely to Be Ruled Accidental

Whitney Houston accepts the International Favorite Artist Award at the 2009 American Music Awards.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Whitney Houston's death on February 11th is expected to be ruled an accident. Sources close to the ongoing investigation of the singer's death have told E! News that "nothing suspicious" has been found to connect the circumstances of her death to any physicians or people of interest.

"She had no marks on her body whatsoever to indicate a struggle, and she was the furthest thing from trying to kill herself," the source told E! News. Full toxicology results will not be ready until next week, and until then, police will not officially comment on the case.

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Don Cornelius Officially Ruled a Suicide

Don Cornelius onstage at the 2009 BET Awards

Coroners have ruled that Soul Train host Don Cornelius' death last week was a suicide. A post mortem carried out on Friday determined that the television icon shot himself in the head. Toxicology test results have not been determined.

Cornelius, who was 75, was found in his home in Sherman Oaks, California last Wednesday. As of yet, there has been no explanation about what might have led Cornelius to take his own life. Tony Cornelius, the host's son, released a statement last week requesting that the media back off the story. "At this time, we respectfully ask that you allow our family and friends the privacy necessary to get through this difficult time," he said in a statement to CNN. "We thank all the well-wishers and the fans who have supported the Soul Train legacy."

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Don Cornelius Officially Ruled a Suicide

Don Cornelius onstage at the 2009 BET Awards

Coroners have ruled that Soul Train host Don Cornelius' death last week was a suicide. A post mortem carried out on Friday determined that the television icon shot himself in the head. Toxicology test results have not been determined.

Cornelius, who was 75, was found in his home in Sherman Oaks, California last Wednesday. As of yet, there has been no explanation about what might have led Cornelius to take his own life. Tony Cornelius, the host's son, released a statement last week requesting that the media back off the story. "At this time, we respectfully ask that you allow our family and friends the privacy necessary to get through this difficult time," he said in a statement to CNN. "We thank all the well-wishers and the fans who have supported the Soul Train legacy."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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