Relatives of a man who was fatally struck by a truck allegedly driven by rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight described him Friday as a kind and peaceful family man who was raising not only his children, but also caring for his nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at First AME Church for 55-year- old Terry Carter, who died after being struck by the truck Jan. 29 in the parking lot of Tam’s Burgers in the 1200 block of West Rosecrans Avenue near Central Avenue. Cle Stone, a 51-year-old actor and filmmaker who appeared in the film “Training Day,” was also struck but survived.
“I’m just at a loss for words,” Carter’s niece, Jasmine Reynolds, said. “He was a true example of a man. He took the responsibility as a man and a husband, a father, a friend.”
Sheriff’s officials contend that Knight had gotten into an argument at a film shoot for a promotional video for “Straight Out of Compton,” a biopic of the Compton rap group N.W.A. Knight, and was told to leave. The argument resumed about 20 minutes later at the eatery about three miles away.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, Stone exchanged punches with Knight through the open window of his truck before the rapper intentionally ran him over, then struck Carter — who had been standing next to Stone — while accelerating forward.
Knight’s lawyer described Carter as a friend of his client’s, but Carter’s relatives denied it. Reynolds said Knight’s name should not be mentioned in the same sentence as Carter.
“We couldn’t even compare him to Terry Carter,” she said.
Another niece, Ayrica Sawyer, said the fact Carter will not be around any more is “devastating.”
“He was kind. He was always there when I needed him to be there. He was just a phone call away,” she said. “I just graduated college and wouldn’t have been able to do that without his support.”
Knight, who is charged with murder, attempted murder and hit-and-run, is due back in court Monday for a bail-review hearing.
— City News Service