L.A. prosecutors say Killer Mike won't be charged in alleged Grammy Awards battery
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles prosecutors said Monday they will not file charges against Atlanta hip-hop artist Killer Mike in an alleged altercation at the Grammy Awards in February.
In a statement, the City Attorney's Office indicated that the artist, whose real name is Michael Render, had “successfully completed the Office’s Hearing process, including a community service requirement that was imposed.”
Earlier Monday, Killer Mike's legal counsel, Michael A. Goldstein, said in a statement that "criminal charges were not warranted."
“Mike has been cleared," he said.
Killer Mike, 49, blamed the Feb. 4 incident at Crypto.com Arena on an "over-zealous security guard" and "some confusion around which door my team and I should enter," he said in a statement a few days later.
One of multiple law enforcement sources who spoke about the matter at the time alleged the rapper pushed and elbowed the unidentified event worker as she tried to direct him to a security checkpoint.
The woman, who was checked out by medical personnel, made a citizen's arrest, which led officers to book Killer Mike on suspicion of battery, multiple law enforcement sources had said.
The artist, a hip-hop intellectual and champion of Atlanta's pop culture renaissance who is part of Run the Jewels, won awards for best rap performance, best rap song and best rap album — all for last year's "Michael," his sixth long-player.
Late Sunday, he accepted another honor for "Michael," the album of the year trophy at the BET Awards.
Diana DasrathDiana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.
Andrew Blankstein
Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western U.S., specializing in crime, courts and homeland security.
Dennis Romero contributed.