Music Executive Chris Lighty Commits Suicide After Fighting with Wife Veronica

Chris Lighty, the music executive that managed a bevy of singers including 50 cent, P.Diddy, Ja Rule, and Mariah Carey throughout his career, shot himself Thursday morning after an argument with his estranged wife at his Bronx apartment.

Lighty, 44, reportedly stepped outside his South Riverdale apartment around 11:30 a.m., after a fight with his wife, Veronica, when a gun shot was heard and Chris was found lying face-up with a 9 mm pistol beside his body.

Law enforcement sources reveal Lighty, whose wife Veronica filed for divorce last year after seven years of marriage, had also been dealing with financial problems and owed over $5 million to the IRS.

A number of stars have paid tribute to the hip-hop mogul including Russell Simmons, who said in a statement, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of a hip-hop hero. Chris Lighty has been a dear friend of mine since he was a kid. Was a brilliant partner in business and I was so proud of all that he had accomplished.

“He is an amazing Example of how a passionate kid from the street can go to the most even-keeled, smart, thoughtful manager in the business and a generous philanthropist. He was loved by everyone who knew him, including me. He will be missed greatly by all of us.”

Other tributes poured in on Twitter:

Ice T wrote, “Wow! > RT @clighty: Rest in peace to my main man The Grand Incredible Dj Scott La Rock. I am still Criminal Minded. 8/27/87″

Fat Joe tweeted, “R.I.P. Chris Lighty. That man saved my life.”

Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun wrote, “hard to believe it is true but RIP to my friend Chris Lighty. gone too soon.”

Singer Rihanna tweeted, “Rest peacefully Chris Lighty, my prayers go out to family and loved ones! Dear God please have mercy (sic)”

An NYPD spokesman told Page 6, “At 11.33 hours police responded to a person shot in the rear of 670 W 232nd Street. When we arrived we found a male, 44, with a gunshot wound to his head.

“A firearm was recovered nearby. He was declared dead at the scene. It is being investigated as a possible suicide.”