Rapper Safaree Samuels Allegedly Robbed At Gunpoint In NJ By Former Old Friend

Reality television and hip-hop star Safaree Samuels was allegedly robbed at gunpoint in New Jersey during the wee hours of Monday, April 2.

The incident happened at around 2 a.m. in Fort Lee. Police revealed that the suspects stole around $183,000 in cash and jewelry.

One Terrifying Experience

Samuels talked about the experience which he described as one of the "worst, scariest nights" of his life in an interview with WWPR-FM. The 36-year-old recounted that the two men ran up to him and had him face down on the ground. They even pointed a gun at his head.

The police spotted and pursued a black Cadillac Escalade near the crime scene, the driver did not stop and headed to the upper level of the George Washington Bridge, according to New Jersey On-Line. However, before it exited the bridge, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete divider.

The three passengers then jumped out of the vehicles, crossed the traffic, and ran into a wooded area. Authorities arrested two of them in New York City while the other one remains at large.

The suspects, who are now in police custody, were identified as Shawn Harewood and Jonathan Ricketts. The two were charged with first-degree robbery.

Inside Job

However, the drama does not stop there.

One of the suspects, Harewood, is a close friend of Samuels, TMZ reported. The publication has obtained an old photo of the rapper with ex-girlfriend Nicki Minaj and his friend Harewood back in 2011 or 2012.

Samuels has known the man since he was 14 years old, but the two has not spoken in years, a source revealed.

Brand New Perspective

In a statement, the "Hunnid" rapper thanked the people who were worried about him after the incident. On Facebook, he revealed that he lost his uncle from a robbery.

The Love & Hip-Hop Hollywood star, however, did not address whether one of the suspects was a friend of his.

"Thank you to everyone who has sent me well wishes... as funny as this may seem to some ppl this is a very serious and traumatic experience that I am dealing with, a life changing experience," he wrote. "It's something that keeps replaying in my head over and over. Nothing is more precious than life and the meaning of life flashing before your eyes really has a new meaning to me."

Tags
Safaree Samuels, Nicki Minaj, Love & Hip Hop Hollywood
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