Yes, you read that headline correctly. Because apparently it’s the NYPD who took 50 Cent’s “Get the Strap” mantra to heart.
The New York Daily News has the scoop:
A Brooklyn precinct commander is being investigated by the NYPD for allegedly threatening the celebrity’s life — telling his officers at a roll call to “shoot him on sight,” the Daily News has learned.
Deputy Inspector Emanuel Gonzalez, the commanding officer of the 72nd Precinct in Sunset Park, allegedly made the threat last June 7, when the actor and “In Da Club” rapper was expected to attend an NYPD sanctioned boxing match in the Bronx.
During a roll call inside the 72nd Precinct stationhouse, Gonzalez told his officers if they saw 50 Cent at the boxing match, known as a smoker, they should “shoot him on sight,” a source with knowledge of the case said.
“The inspector just said that at roll call,” the source said. “I’m like WTF.”
Gonzalez tried to pass off the order as a joke, but a probe was eventually launched after his request made its way to police headquarters.
“The incident is under internal review,” a department spokesman said.
Additionally, a source told the Daily News that the Internal Affairs Bureau’s Group 1—which is responsible for police corruption cases for captains and above—is actively investigating.
Gonzalez remains on active duty and will be celebrating his 30th anniversary with the department later this year.
The timing of this incident is of particular interest as well, considering it occurred at time in which the commanding officer was engaged in a feud with the “In Da Club” rapper.
A month before the roll call, Gonzalez filed an aggravated harassment complaint, claiming 50 Cent threatened him on Instagram.
The entertainer was commenting on a lawsuit first reported in the Daily News accusing Gonzalez of shaking down the owner of the Sunset Park club Love and Lust — one of 50 Cent’s favorite haunts — when he wrote “Get the strap,” a slang term for “get a gun.”
In the complaint he filed in the department, Gonzalez said several of 50 Cent’s 18 million followers responded with their own threats against the precinct leader, including “F—k this commander” and “Blast this fool,” leaving him “in fear of his safety.”
50 Cent eventually removed the Instagram post in question. And while the department investigated Gonzalez’s complaint, no charges were filed.
However, in response to Gonzalez’s order to shoot the Queens rapper—whose given name is Curtis Jackson—“on sight”, a rep for 50 Cent released the following statement:
“Mr. Jackson takes this threat very seriously and is consulting with his legal counsel regarding his options going forward,” the rep said. “He is concerned that he was not previously advised of this threat by the NYPD and even more concerned that Gonzalez continues to carry a badge and a gun.”
“This guy Emanuel Gonzales is a dirty cop abusing his POWER. The sad part is this man still has a badge and a gun,” he tweeted. “I take this threat very seriously and im [sic] consulting with my legal counsel regarding my options moving forward.”
Considering Gonzalez’s standing as a commanding officer, it’s definitely a threat that should not be taken likely and we’ll keep you updated as more details on the investigation come to light.
