Kidd Creole, a member of rap group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for murdering a homeless man.
Kidd Creole, who is 62, stabbed 55-year-old John Jolly twice in the chest while on his way to work in Manhattan in August 2017. According to reports, the man asked him, “What’s up?”
Creole thought the man was making a pass at him and the situation escalated.
“Mr. Jolly’s death was devastating to his family and those who knew him,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said via ABC7. “Every life we lose to violent crime ripples throughout our entire city, and we will continue to ensure everyone in our borough can live their lives with the sense of safety and security they deserve.”
Added D.A. Bragg: “This case makes clear that if you commit violent crime, we will hold you accountable, and I thank our team for their hard work achieving justice in this matter.”
Creole’s attorney argued that his client believed he was in danger. Creole’s lawyer plans to appeal the decision.