Smith told police that soon as he stepped out the door he called 911. Seconds later, he heard a gunshot.
A day after Def Jam’s Shakir Stewart committed suicide, the family of the executive released a statement: “Over the past several weeks, Shakir's behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love. As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence.”
Now newer details are emerging regarding the “inconsistent behavior.” According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Stewart’s friend Herb Smith, who was present at Stewart’s home the day of the tragedy, told police that Stewart was “wigging out” before his death.
On October 31, Stewart’s finance Michelle Rivers, first noticed things were strange with Stewart when they went out for Halloween. At a loss, Rivers called Smith to talk to him.
Smith says that he went over to Stewart’s Marietta home, to find his friend visibly shaken. Stewart never confided in Smith, nor Rivers, what was wrong and he eventually told Smith to leave the house and go “back home to his wife and children.”
Smith told police that soon as he stepped out the door he called 911. Seconds later, he heard a gunshot. Rivers, who was in the couple’s kitchen at the time, found Stewart on the master bedroom floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head— not the bathroom, as previously reported.
A private funeral for the executive was held Thursday. On Friday, a public memorial at Stewart’s alma mater Morehouse, was held at the King’s Chapel in Atlanta, where Def Jam artist Ne-Yo sung “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday.” Guests included many of Stewart’s Def Jam family: LL Cool J, Chrisette Michele, Steve Bartels and Karen Kwak. Other mourners included DJ Don Cannon, Big Oomp, Atlanta City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell, and DJ Toomp. A biographical video tribute (to the tunes of Michael Jackson, Prince, Maxwell, Ginuwine, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy) was played.
Autopsy reports will be available in 12 weeks.
Comments
1.
pastorcarl says:
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I dont know, this sounds real suspect to me. Now Pastor, I come out of the music industry. I was a choreographer turned road manager on my way to landing a job with a company before I got the call to serve God.
I think coming up in the industry makes you ready for the preasure of the position. So im not completely sold on the theary that he couldnt handle it. your there because you can.
I think some else is behind this, either they killed him direct, or they drove him to it. He was too ready for it!
Pastor Carl
January 1, 2009 at 9:24 am
2.
Maroonsista says:
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Please correct the spelling of fiancee. It says "finance." Other than that, thanks for the information, Vibe.
December 30, 2008 at 10:01 am
3.
tayloyal says:
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Think it was homoside
December 22, 2008 at 12:42 pm
4.
tracy111 says:
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I just went to the alan watt website and listened to the podcat from oct 27th , I don’t personally know shakir but I followed his career and respected him as a businessman,(may he please r.i.p) If that was shakir who was on that show he was crying out somthing that everyone needs to hear, i think people close to him needs to listen to see if that is him so that maybe they will have answers that those concerned [people don’t know , my heart goes out to him and his family, if he did do this this man must have been in great fear and pain!!! people check out the site!!! r.i.p peace shakir you’ll have pain nomore god bless
cuttingthroughthematrix.com/AlanWattPodCast
OCT 27TH
November 11, 2008 at 8:07 am
5.
kysskyss says:
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tHE ONE THING THAT COULD DRIVE SHAKIR TO DO SUCH A THING IS GOING COMPLETELY BROKE
AND WE ALL KNOW THATS NOT THE CASE
THE sECOND WOULD BE FINDING OUT HE WAS HIV POSITIVE! SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AFTER ALL ALOT OF MALE CELBS ARE UNDERCOVER BROTHAS:
November 11, 2008 at 4:20 am
6.
MackN2U says:
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This is a most unfortunate loss, my prayers go out to the family and all those affected.
November 10, 2008 at 3:43 pm