Sean "Puffy" Combs was arrested this afternoon, charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen goods, according to a police department spokesman. Combs was originally arrested along with Jennifer Lopez, but she was released after the Manhattan District Attorney's office determined that there was insufficient cause to hold her. The two were originally brought in for questioning when a search of their car -- pulled over for running several red lights -- produced a gun. It was later established that Combs and Lopez had been present at the scene of a shooting at midtown's Club New York.
Police say that at around 2:30 a.m., a dispute at the club led to gunfire that injured two men and a woman. Natanya Ruben, 29, was shot in the face; Julius Jones, 27, and Robert Thompson, 39, were both shot in the shoulder. Ruben and Jones are currently in critical but stable condition at Saint Vincent's Hospital. Thompson refused aid on the scene.
When police arrived at the club, they arrested nineteen-year-old Jamal Barrow, who was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Yet it remains unknown whether Barrow's weapon was responsible for the shots fired.
Combs and Lopez, along with Anthony Jones and Wardel Fenderson (who police say was driving the car), were detained by police for more than twelve hours following the incident. Fenderson and Jones were also charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen goods; Jones was additionally charged with criminal possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a controlled substance. At press time, Combs, Jones and Fenderson had yet to be arraigned.
JENNY ELISCU
(December 27, 1999)