Las Vegas Sun

April 25, 2024

Lawsuit: Rapper Boosie targeted for shopping while black

Boosie

Bill Haber / AP

In this March 10, 2014 file photo, rapper Lil’ Boosie, whose real name is Torence Hatch, appears at a news conference in New Orleans. Six men have been arrested after rapper Boosie Badazz attracted an unruly crowd Sunday, April 9, 2017 while shopping at a Mississippi mall.

BILOXI, Miss. — Hip-hop star Boosie BadAzz says he was pepper-sprayed by a mall guard in Mississippi because he's black, but the guard and police say otherwise.

The Sun Herald reported Thursday on pretrial testimony in Boosie's federal lawsuit. The celebrity entered a Dillard's store with about 20 onlookers during Biloxi's 2017 Black Beach Weekend. Biloxi officer Matt Howard says he was called to assist with the "unruly crowd."

Guard Glen Kerley says he pepper-sprayed Boosie's assistant, who he says clenched his fists after being asked to leave. Kerley and Howard say the group then attacked Kerley outside.

Testimony indicates that Kerley repeatedly pepper-sprayed Boosie. Tammy Cotton, who worked for Dillard's at the time, testified that Kerley was known for being aggressive to black shoppers.

A settlement meeting is set for Jan. 17.