West Point Army CB attacked most likely with career ending injury

Sephire

Golden Member
Feb 9, 2011
1,689
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Richard-King.jpg


WARNING! Graphic Violence

Footage of Richard King beating

News report

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Posing: As blood lays splattered on the pavement next to her, LaBelle poses with a police officer


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Source


In his best-laid plans, Richard King was set to leave West Point next year as both a starting cornerback on the Cadet football team and a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Instead, in a span of a little less than three months, he's been inflicted with likely career-ending injuries, busted to private and thrust into the queue for active duty — all, according to a lawsuit filed this week, the consequences of an unexpected encounter with R&B diva Patti LaBelle after King landed in his native Houston for spring break on March 11:


King's lawsuit, obtained by the Associated Press, states, "Apparently, defendant LaBelle believed King was standing too close to her (no doubt expensive) luggage, even though he was oblivious to her presence and the danger he was in. LaBelle lowered the window of her limousine and gave a command to her bodyguards. They sprang into action."
[…]
A surveillance video from the airport provided by King's lawyer and reviewed by The Associated Press showed King, who is 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, talking on a cell phone when one of LaBelle's bodyguards appeared to push up against him. It appeared that King then pushed him back. John Raley, one of King's lawyers, said King did not push back but was only trying to protect himself from a punch.

The bodyguard and two other individuals then pushed and punched King, hitting him in the face. King fell into a concrete pillar during the altercation. He tried to get up, staggered, tried to get back up and staggered again. King was taken away on a stretcher with blood on his shirt and a bandage on his head.

LaBelle's limo driver — her 37-year-old son — declined to press charges, but did file an initial complaint against King with Houston police, whose report of the incident (based on the driver's account) described King as drunk, belligerent and harassing the occupants of the limo. It also suggests King swung first at the driver when asked to step away, and that both the driver and an officer who arrived later "smelled the odor of alcohol on the suspect," which is the better explanation for why the person lying half-conscious on the pavement has to have charges dropped against him. (King and his lawyer said he had "a few drinks" on the plane but wasn't drunk, and only shoved a bodyguard to protect himself.) The less flattering explanation is that starstruck officers — one of whom was later caught on camera posing for a picture with LaBelle with King's spilled blood still on the pavement a few feet away — sided with celebrity.

Either way, King's immediate fate appears to be sealed. After the incident, the report filed by the driver was forwarded by Houston police to West Point, which subsequently decided to "outprocess" King "under an administrative action" — in civilian terms, to suspend him, drop his rank and ship him out under a program that enlists cadets who leave the academy after the beginning of their junior year for three years of active duty with an option to return to complete their degree at the end of the tour.

It's not clear what King's service will entail, but he told local news in Houston that he expects to be deployed in the next few months and hopes to return to the academy in 2013. "I'm going to do whatever my country tells me to do," he said. "I'm going to give it my all."

If his West Point career isn't over, though, his football career almost certainly is: According to the lawsuit, King suffered a concussion, has continued to experience lingering headaches and dizziness and — in light of a series of concussions that sidelined him for the entire 2009 season — has been told by doctors that he'll never play again. Last year, King returned to play in every game and intercept four passes as an occasional starter for the first decent Army outfit in 15 years. Here's hoping to even more success on his next team.

Source

Patti LaBelle Accused of Ordering Attack

Army CB celebrity encounter ends with concussion

Patti LaBelle sued after her bodyguards pummel West Point cadet

"And bash him up they did. The bodyguards punched the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Army defensive back in the head until he fell to the ground, bloodied with a concussion. A surveillance video at the airport shows King struggling to get up after the attack, falling to the pavement several times."

Unpatriotic Act?

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*****New develpoments June 6:******

West Point cadet's attorney wants criminal charges against Patti LaBelle's bodyguards

HOUSTON—There are new developments in the case of a West Point cadet who is suing R&B singer Patti LaBelle in connection with an alleged beating at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Houston native Richard King claims he was waiting for his family to pick him up outside Terminal C in March when three of LaBelle’s bodyguards attacked him.

The bodyguards told officers with the Houston Police Department that King attacked them. They said King tried to get into their limo and threw the first punch.

The limo driver, Zuri Edwards, told police he did not want to file charges against King.

According to the police report, King is named as the suspect, but officers are taking a second look at the case after King’s attorney released surveillance video of the alleged beating.

"I’m encouraged by that because anyone who is seeking the truth in this will see clearly that Richard was attacked by these people with no provocation whatsoever," said Houston attorney John Raley. "The video confirms it, witnesses confirm it and now the police are looking at it."

There is no audio on the tape.

The bodyguard and limo driver reported that King was intoxicated.

Police officers noted in their report that the 23-year-old smelled of alcohol.

Meanwhile, police say they could launch an internal investigation into the officers’ actions after two of the officers were seen on the same surveillance video taking pictures with LaBelle just after the alleged beating.

"I have great admiration and appreciation for those who protect and serve, in the fire department, in the police department, armed services, but sometimes people do things that quite frankly they disgrace their uniforms and I think these people are among them," said Raley.

According to Raley, after the incident, someone from HPD called West Point to report a cadet was drunk and involved in an assault.

As a result, the attorney says his client – an Army football player—was suspended.

When West Point learned about the incident, they told King he would have to serve 18 months on Army deployment before he could re-apply to West Point to finish school.

But now, Raley said the officers are taking a second look at the case, too.

"Officers now who have seen the videotape and know that he is innocent have come forward and said, ‘We’re on your side,’ so it’s possible that West Point will reconsider this decision," said Raley. "We’re hopeful."

A spokesperson for West Point did not return a phone call for comment.

At this point, no criminal charges have been filed in the case.

An HPD spokesperson said the case remains open.

Source with news footage
 
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dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Hopefully the kid doesn't need the Football or Military career with all the money he should be getting from LaBelle and the Houston Airport.

Texas, figures

Hopefully those Airport Rent a cops get their asses fired too.
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
3
81
Hopefully, the kid wins millions.

And it is disgusting how the military is treating one of their own.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
1
0
wow....the body guard overreacted....Could have just pushed him and threatened him a few times first, but he went right in for the beat down.
 

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
16,524
29
91
The cops posing for pics with her at the end, after that kid got all messed up....:(
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
There are way to many lawsuits in this country but this guy should get paid.
 

maniacalpha1-1

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2010
3,562
14
81
It's too bad the camera doesn't show enough of the beginning of the altercation, however, based on what can be seen, it certainly seems that the bodyguards should be charged and convicted of assault.

And the military doing what they are doing is an even worse crime. Morally, even if not legally.

But seriously, it's too bad the camera doesn't show more, because it does, admittedly, leave room for reasonable doubt. Aren't there any witnesses other than the people involved who saw the beginning?
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
doesn't matter what he did, unless he was threatening her with a weapon they outnumbered him and went way over the line...hope he gets a chunk of her.
 

child of wonder

Diamond Member
Aug 31, 2006
8,307
176
106
Kid's going to be a millionaire. The body guards need to be charged with assault and battery. If Patti Labelle ordered them to kick his ass, she needs to be charged as well.
 

RadiclDreamer

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
8,622
40
91
So a washed up singer orders her goons to attack someone? Should be jail and a huge payout for her.
 

the DRIZZLE

Platinum Member
Sep 6, 2007
2,956
1
81
The video seems to be enough proof for the kid to win in civil court. The military probably just accepted the police report at face value without much of an investigation, which is unfortunate.
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
4
0
Hopefully the kid doesn't need the Football or Military career with all the money he should be getting from LaBelle and the Houston Airport.

Texas, figures

Hopefully those Airport Rent a cops get their asses fired too.


What does Texas have to do with it you fucking moron?
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
WTF the bitch should be in jail for that. teh kid did nothing and was attacked.

hope this gets news footage and i hope the kid wins millions.


but he wont...
 

OlafSicky

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2011
2,364
0
0
The military should be ashamed of themselves. Is there anybody we can email with our outrage.
Sign up put your life on the line and then as soon as something happens they cut you loose. He should have had a Military lawyer bail him out etc. Innocent until proven guilty but apparently not in the US military. Patty LaBelle should be in prison for this.

BTW why didn't a military officer know how to defend himself??
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
Hopefully, the kid wins millions.

And it is disgusting how the military is treating one of their own.

Well the military isn't the one to conduct an investigation. In truth, he is subject to unfortunate circumstance, at least on the part of the military.

This was a civilian issue - i.e. it happened when he was acting as a civilian, and in a civilian environment, and was handled by civilian agencies.

They forwarded their reports and findings, and the military then takes action based on the civilian agency's statements.

He got fucked because the civilian agencies fucked him royally.
And standard procedures for the cases like this that are actually accurately reported, are handled as they had been here. It simply appears the reports are not exactly accurate, so the military is thus working with flawed information.

So, the military screwed their own, but they are merely following the standard procedures here. It was the civilian agencies involved that fucked this guy over. Hopefully it gets corrected, and hopefully the agencies involved can give an accurate report to the Department of the Army, and if that indeed happens we can expect they'll do what they can to restore this guy to his proper position.

In short, he lost his commission because that's standard procedure for when a Cadet or Commissioned Officer fucks up. The civilian agencies essentially reported to the Army that, indeed, he seriously fucked up. Sadly, it appears it was the civilians involved that screwed the pooch here, so hopefully they get it straight, so that the military can act on accurate information.

Don't blame the military for this one.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
BTW why didn't a military officer know how to defend himself??

We do - well, some.
He's still a cadet, not officially commissioned or anything. He has a LOT to learn yet, and at least one major training course yet to attend (which he won't go to until after graduation).
Most importantly, we're constantly instructed to handle situations, exactly like this, with as minimal action on our part as possible.
Do you really think it's a good idea to have Officers in the military in a fight with civilians? Not very PR, and not appropriate or at all a good reflection on training. An Officer is supposed to professional and disciplined, and it's basically instructed to be "the better man" in a civilian confrontation. The idea is ultimately, defend your life, but don't do anything unnecessary beyond protecting yourself.

Also, it sounds like the first punch to the face was a lucky punch - it caused him to get a little disoriented it seems, or at least the loss of balance and striking of the concrete may have done the same thing. Regardless, it's hard to really defend yourself when you lose coordination.

The military should be ashamed of themselves. Is there anybody we can email with our outrage.
Sign up put your life on the line and then as soon as something happens they cut you loose. He should have had a Military lawyer bail him out etc. Innocent until proven guilty but apparently not in the US military. Patty LaBelle should be in prison for this.

Yes, that's how it is as Officers. As soon as you decide to sign that contract, you are treated like an Officer in terms of discipline - unprofessional actions can result in loss of contract as well as serious punitive actions, the most common of which is being legally forced into Enlistment to pay the Army back for their expenditure on your training.

As an Officer, anything that results in punitive action as a civilian can often result in a loss of your Commission.
Have you not read about all the high-ranking officers who are being cut from the Army because of seemingly benign mistakes? That's just the way it is, and I agree with it. While an enlisted Soldier may be able to walk away with a drop in rank for a drug offense, DUI, civilian altercation, etc... those same offenses often result in an Officer losing his Commission - further punitive actions depend on circumstances, time in service, etc etc etc.

Hopefully, with the accurate information now available, the Army will take corrective actions here.
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,481
1,036
126
The Houston police officer posing with LaBelle is under an "unofficial" internal investigation over this event. LaBelle and her body guards should have been cuffed and taken in. At the very least detained until things were sorted out.

Instead they were given the star treatment by the officer who appears to have done little to no investigation into the situation before filing his report. He failed his duty as an officer and should be fired.
 
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