Several media outlets are reporting that veteran music executive Chris Lighty died from an apparent suicide.
The New York Daily News reports that the hip hop veteran shot himself in the head at his Bronx apartment following an argument with his estranged wife, Veronica. He was 44.
Police sources told the paper he stepped outside his South Riverdale apartment about 11:30 a.m., after a spat with his wife. Suddenly, a gun shot was heard and Lighty was found lying faceup with a 9-mm. pistol next to his body.
The chief operating officer at Primary Violator (a partnership between Lightly’s Violator Management and Primary Wave Music, home to Cee-Lo Green), Lightly was the longtime manager of 50 Cent and brought with him a roster that included such artists as Mariah Carey, Soulja Boy, L.L. Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Diddy. Lighty supervised some 42 employees at Primary Violator.
According to the Daily News, Lightly may have been dealing with financial issues following a divorce last year which included owing about $5 million to the IRS.
Information from Eurweb.com and New York Daily News contributed to this report.
