Friend Says Money, Not Argument With Wife, Triggered Chris Lighty’s Suicide

September 1, 2012 by Kellie Williams in Latest News with 0 Comments

One may never know what really triggered the untimely suicide of 44-year-old music executive, Chris Lighty. Here’s what we do know: Sadly, Chris shot himself in the head (the medical examiner now rules his death a suicide) Thursday, at his Bronx home, with a 9-mm. handgun. A source says he was overheard saying “Im tired of this” and walked into the backyard, where he shot himself.

The scene outside of Chris Lighty's home

Here’s where the conflicting stories begin. Some say that a heated argument between Chris and his estranged wife, Veronica, may have triggered him ending his life. Others say that the astronomical IRS debt owed may have been a factor. Most recently, Veronica’s close friend Norman Downes, disputes that Chris or Veronica were in an argument before his suicide. Norman tells the NYDaily News:

“He was in a lot of pain and he possibly had some financial difficulties…But they didn’t get into a fight that day. The only person that really knows is Chris, and he ain’t here.”

Reportedly, he owed $300,000 in unpaid state and federal taxes. Meanwhile, Chris’s close friend, Michael ‘Blue’ Williams says that the amount of pressure he (Chris) was under, may’ve been the cause, not debt. He told MTV News:

“Chris’ debt is probably less important than the pressure that he was under. What people are missing and what people don’t see and what Chris is an example of is how much, as black men, we carry around and don’t always communicate….Some people will hear you’re in $2 million of debt and be like, ‘Aww he could’ve got out of that’. Other people will be like, ‘He’s been in debt before and then dug himself out,’ because managers get in debt sometimes and you got to dig yourself out when your artist gets hot.”

Williams continued:

“I know exactly what he was feeling when it comes to pressure and debt, trying to keep your company afloat and doing what you got to do, while also maintaining a certain perception out there. It was a combination of both, talking to him, my own experiences; I’m not just grabbing it out of the air.”

Williams isn’t sure if the rumored fight between Chris and Veronica took him off the edge, but did comment:

“No one can fight in the streets all day and then go home and fight all night, no matter what you do for a living, not just being specific to [Chris].”

An official statement from the Lighty family nor funeral arrangements have yet been released.

[Contributor @Miss_Shareta, @theJasmineBrand]