LAPD names Kanye West a suspect in alleged battery case

Kanye West has been named as a suspect in an alleged battery case, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

The rapper is being investigated following an incident early Thursday morning outside of Soho Warehouse, a members only club. West was allegedly seen punching a fan that was asking for a photograph.

“A fan says he saw Kanye sitting in his car and walked up to the window to ask him for an autograph,” journalist Gigi Graciette from Fox 11 reported. “Words were exchanged – what those words are, well, that’s all part of the police investigation – but the fan told officers that Kanye jumped out of his car, called him some … words not suitable for television, and then punched him, knocking him to the ground.”

No arrests have been made at this time. West is being investigated for misdemeanour battery, a charge that holds a maximum jail sentence of six months.

This is not West’s first investigation for battery. In March 2014, he pleaded no contest to a count of misdemeanour battery against a photographer at LAX in July 2013. West attempted to forcibly take the camera away from the photographer resulting in West undergoing 24-hour anger management as part of his probation.

West was involved in another investigation in January 2014 in which he was accused of assaulting a man at a Beverly Hills chiropractor’s office. He reached a civil settlement with the man and was not charged.

The latest accusation comes after the rapper was announced as a Coachella 2022 headliner alongside Harry Styles and Billie Eilish. The event would mark the DONDA artist’s performance at the California festival since 2011.

Hours before the incident, West was seen listening mysteriously to Drake music with singer Madonna, boxer Floyd Mayweather, and rumoured girlfriend Julia Fox.