Diddy was sued earlier this month by an Atlanta man who claimed the mogul allegedly shot at him during a car chase in the ’90s – and now he’s detailing his claims in a new interview.
Talking to News Nation about the lawsuit on Monday (November 11), DeWitt Gilmore, who bills himself as “an author, entrepreneur and public figure,” shared his version of events and explained why he’s just now coming out with the allegations.
“We’re in front of Herald Square. It’s about one in the morning and his bodyguard pulls his sports car and runs me off the road so now I’m on an island,” he said. “We get out of the vehicle, [my bodyguard Lance] gets out of the vehicle and that’s the moment we realize he was not alone. It was not just Puffy and bodyguard. There were four other cars. They were loaded with guys. The next thing I hear is ‘pop, pop’ and Lance goes, ‘Gun! Gun!’ and it’s all going down at the same time.”
He continued: “For the life of me, how I got teleported out of that situation I don’t know, but I jump back in my truck. Lance jumps back in the truck. I jump over the island. Now it’s a hasty car chase. I’m on sidewalks, I’m going down one ways. It’s one o’clock in the morning. There’s not a lot of traffic, but the traffic that was there, I was able to basically escape this guy and his goons.”
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When asked how he’s able to get around the statute of limitations, which is one year for assault in New York, he explained: “Well, the way to bring a case into court past the statute limitations if you’re not sexually assaulted with the New York State laws is new evidence. And as of recent – a few months ago – I’m in touch Lance. Lance was my security in the truck at the time. And so we’ve all been intimidated quite frankly by Puffy and his money, his name changes and all of his goons and his security and his fan-base.
“And so two things – for one, I got back in touch Lance. He gave full testimony to the event that night. He’s never given full testimony. Number two, as I said, not just me but many people have been intimidated by this guy’s power and influence and his money. Not for nothing, but he could wipe me out in no time with that much power. So I was afraid, to be honest with you, but ever since he got locked up […], I just feel safe now to come forth and tell my story.”
Gilmore’s lawsuit against Diddy was filed in federal court last Sunday (November 3).
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In the lawsuit, Gilmore claims that one evening in summer 1996, he was getting into his car after leaving a nightclub when Diddy and some “associates” pulled up and began taunting and threatening him.
Things escalated, the complaint continues, when some of those associates allegedly began waving guns around, and shots were fired.
“Fearing for his life, Plaintiff Gilmore, with…witnesses, were aggressively chased through the dark city streets and managed to evade the scene by accelerating through traffic, narrowly escaping a potentially deadly ambush,” the suit continues.
Gilmore says he brought the suit after recently reconnecting with a witness from that night after decades of separation.
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“This reconnection brought forth new insight and testimonial evidence surrounding the events of that night, underscoring the intensity of the encounter with Sean Combs,” he writes in the suit.
“[The witness’] account serves as recently discovered evidence, significant enough to reopen the case beyond the usual statute of limitations due to the unique circumstances of intimidation and safety concerns that delayed earlier action.”
Gilmore is asking for $5 million for “emotional distress, physical harm, lost opportunities, and reputational damage.”
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Diddy’s representatives told HipHopDX regarding Gilmore’s suit: “As we’ve said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every new publicity stunt, even in response to claims that are facially ridiculous. Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that these accusations are pure fiction.”
