Agonizing before a packed court about it being the toughest decision of his legal career, a Manhattan judge Friday sentenced Bad Boy Entertainment-signed rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow to 10 years in state prison on firearms violations stemming from a Dec. 27, 1999 shooting at a Manhattan nightclub.
“This is a tragedy all the way around,” Judge Charles Solomon said as he handed down the sentences for two counts of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and illegal gun possession the 22-year-old rapper was convicted on in March.
Solomon said that while he saw good in Shyne, he could not over look the seriousness of the charges the rapper was convicted on. A choked up Shyne apologized to the victims and their families, maintaining that he feared for his life. Shyne acknowledged firing a gun in Club New York but maintained in his defense that another gunman’s bullets injured the two victims.
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Victims of the shooting and their relatives confronted Shyne about his role in the nightclub shooting, asking him to put themselves in their place of either suffering a gunshot wound or receiving a late night phone call about a relative sustaining such injuries. Shooting victim Natania Reuben described how the gunshot wound she sustained to the face has affected her life, while fellow victim Julius Jones remained silent in the courtroom.
The rapper could have faced up to 25 years in state prison, including 18 years on the most serious charges of assault and reckless endangerment. Sentences for the lesser charges ranged from two and a third to seven years. The sentences for all the charges will instead run concurrently, including the two months Shyne has already served on Rikers Island.
Shyne will have to serve at least eight years and seven months before he could qualify for parole. While at Rikers awaiting sentencing, Shyne has organized a counseling group for troubled youth in the prison called Youth Empowerment Sessions and he had just completed work on a second album titled Dear America.
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In a statement issued Friday, the head of the label Shyne is on Sean “P-Ditty” Combs described the sentence as “extreme and unfair” and said he “will continue to support Shyne throughout the appeal.” Combs and his bodyguard were acquitted of similar gun violation charges that Shyne was convicted on in March. Newly hired defense attorney Diarmund White will handle Shyne’s appeal.
Shyne’s mother yelled, “I love you Shyne” as the rapper was led away by bailiffs. On the verge of tears, he replied, “I love you too, Ma.”
