Rapper Remy Ma Arrested in NYC Shooting

NEW YORK, NY (July 15, 2007) — Rapper Remy Ma Arrested in NYC ShootingGrammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma was arrested Saturday on charges of attempted murder in a shooting outside a trendy Manhattan nightspot, police said.The 26-year-old rapper, whose real name is Remy Smith, had been sought for questioning in the shooting of a 23-year-old woman early Saturday after a verbal dispute near a bar in the Meatpacking District. She reported to police Saturday evening and was also arrested on charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.The rapper’s manager said Saturday that she could not talk and referred calls to Remy Ma’s attorney, who was with the rapper as she reported to police.“I ask everyone to keep an open mind,” attorney Scott Leemon said. “Things are not always as they seem.”He said an arraignment would be likely be held on Sunday.A 911 call reporting gunfire led police to a woman with a gunshot wound. Three blocks away, officers discovered a luxury SUV owned by Remy Ma; the vehicle had been involved in a single-car crash and abandoned, police said.The victim, Makeda Barnes-Joseph, was in stable condition at a hospital.Sasha Tcherekoff, owner of the Pizza Bar, said a review of security videotape taken inside his nightspot showed the rapper and her friends having a good time before they exited.“The police have indicated to us that the altercation happened a block away,” the owner said. “The security tapes determined there was no physical or verbal altercation while they were in the Pizza Bar.”Remy Ma was nominated for a Grammy as part of the Terror Squad for the 2004 summer smash “Lean Back.” She also earned the “Best Female Hip Hop” award at the 2005 BET Awards.She went on to a solo career, releasing last year’s “There’s Something About Remy.” She has appeared on recordings with best-selling performers including Fat Joe, Eminem and R. Kelly, according to a biography on her Web site.