David Becker/WireImageSuge Knight has been hospitalized after being shot by an unidentified assailant at a packed nightclub in West Hollywood early on Sunday.
The 49-year-old former CEO of Death Row Records, whose real name is Marion Knight Jr., was attending a party Chris Brown had hosted at the 1OAK club ahead of the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, which take place later in the day. Several shots were heard and Knight and two other people were hit, police told E! News, adding that an investigation has been opened.
"You could hear the gunshots very clearly," a witness told E! News. "The entire club hit the ground and people were being escorted out with their hands up. Chris' entourage covered him up pretty quickly and were pushing him out the door to get out. I did not see the gunshots but saw Suge Knight walking out and getting into the police car. Obviously the whole place was pretty shaken up."
Knight was treated for his injury at a hospital, where he underwent surgery. As of Sunday morning, he is in stable condition, authorities told E! News. Knight's injures are "non-life-threatening," NBC Los Angeles quoted officials as saying. The outlet also reported that the other two people who were shot are a man and a woman.
It is unclear if Knight was the target of the shooter, who is still at large. No arrests have been made.
"It's disappointing that we as a society can't have fun or enjoy ourselves without any altercations sometimes," tweeted Brown, who performed at the club and was seen leaving and getting into his car after the shooting.
The singer is nominated for one VMA this year and had hosted the party to celebrate the release of his upcoming sixth studio album, X, as seen in a photo he posted on Instagram. While he touted the gala as a "pre-VMA party," it was not unaffiliated with MTV, a network rep said.
—Reporting by Jenna Loomer and Marcus Mulick