Kanye West Claims Self Defense In Assault of Pap
Kanye West is insisting that his physical attack on a photographer last July was self-defense, according to reports.
West, the 36-year-old rapper, was charged with criminal battery and attempted grand theft for allegedly attacking a member of the paparazzi earlier this summer. West was about to leave LAX airport in July when members of the paparazzi surrounded him to take pictures.
One man is reported to have continually hounded West with questions, with the rapper telling him to stop, according to TMZ. After the paparazzi refused to stop hounding the rapper, West turned and allegedly attacked the man, attempting to grab his camera equipment and wrestling him to the floor. West then left in a waiting vehicle with the incident captured by TMZ cameras.
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While the photographer decided to file a civil lawsuit against West, the rapper is insisting that he was only protecting himself.
"[West believed] his safety was in immediate danger, "the rapper's response to the civil suit states, according to TMZ. "[Kanye] responded to this assault by doing only those acts that were reasonably necessary for his self-defense …"
The photographer was treated at Marina del Rey Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif and released on the same day. Deputy District Attorney Amy-Hannah Broersma initially said the level of injuries did not warrant a felony charge to be brought against the rapper.
"[He] did not sustain significant injury," Broersma said, according to a KTLA news report.
The case had been transferred to the Robbery Homicide Unit after the paparazzi pressed charges against West. It was later referred to the L.A. County D.A.
TMZ is reporting that West is being charged with criminal battery and attempted grand theft which are both misdemeanor charges. The charges could result in the rapper facing a maximum one-year prison sentence if convicted.
West will be arraigned October 10, TMZ reports.
In June, the father who shares a new baby girl with reality television star Kim Kardashian snapped at photographers in a similar rant while out with his girlfriend's mother Kris Jenner. The X17Online photographer has said that he simply was wishing West well on his new bundle of joy, but the rapper did not want members of the paparazzi speaking to him.
"Don't say anything," West ordered, according to TMZ. "You know what I'm saying, don't talk to me!"
