Man allegedly killed by Suge Knight was father figure in South L.A.
The man allegedly hit and killed by Marion “Suge” Knight was described by friends as a father figure in South Los Angeles who helped young men escape gang life.
Terry Carter was the founder and owner of Heavyweight Records and was devoted to steering young men away from a life of crime, said Darcell Carraway, who described himself as a longtime friend. He said Carter -- known as “Pops” to friends -- even advised young people on how to invest money in legitimate businesses.
MORE: Cellphone records will back Suge Knight’s story, lawyer says
“As young black men, we don’t have many people that help us,” said Carraway, 38, who runs LA Firm Inc magazine. “This is a big loss.”
Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials say Carter was struck and killed by Knight’s truck Thursday afternoon outside Tam’s Burgers near Central and East Rosecrans avenues in Compton.
Authorities said the incident followed an argument on the set of a promo for the N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton.” They said the argument might have spilled over to the popular burger stand.
Witnesses told police the driver struck Carter and a second man with the truck, backed over them and drove off. Knight’s attorney James Blatt identified the second man as Cle “Bone” Sloan. Sloan, an actor who appeared in “Training Day” with Denzel Washington, was injured but survived.
As the investigation unfolded, detectives named Knight, 49, as a person of interest and asked to speak with him. Alongside his attorneys, Knight surrendered early Friday.
His attorney said Carter was trying to break up a fight, and his client fled because he feared for his life.
Carter had been at the film shoot to support his friend, rapper Ice Cube, friends said.
Ice Cube, whose real name is O’Shea Jackson, and Carter worked on a soundtrack for the film “The Players Club.”
Carraway said he has never met Knight but believes Carter’s death was an accident. He said Carter and Knight had been friends for years.
Carter, a Compton native, will always be the man who encouraged him to stay on the right path, Carraway said.
“It’s just a tragedy to lose somebody like this,” he said.
For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.
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