One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Park La Brea Murder-Suicide Victims Identified As Chris Brown Back-Up Dancer And Rapper
Earl Hayes and Stephanie Moseley (Photos via Instagram)
Police have identified the two victims of an apparent murder-suicide this morning as rapper Earl Hayes and dancer and actress Stephanie Moseley. Hayes' self-described life coach and friend Burrel Wilks identified the pair, KTLA reports. Wilks said that Moseley and Hayes had been in a long-term relationship, but were currently going through a breakup. Police believe Hayes first fatally shot Moseley before turning the gun on himself, City News Service reports.
Moseley was an actress and dancer who appeared on VH1's Hit the Floor and had danced with Chris Brown and Britney Spears in the past, TMZ reports. Hayes was a rapper and part of boxer Floyd Mayweather's entourage. TMZ also reports that sources close to the victims told them that Hayes had previously accused Moseley of cheating on him with a well-known singer.
The shooting occurred this morning around 7:30 a.m. at The Palazzo East at Park La Brea on Hauser Boulevard. Witnesses heard a woman scream followed by ten gunshots. A SWAT team discovered the bodies after being called to the barricaded apartment around 9 a.m.
Chris Brown Instagrammed a photo with Moseley in which he expresses his condolences.
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone, remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt, and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
