ATLANTA -- The rap star Juvenile is "shocked and devastated" by the shooting death of his young daughter, the girl's mother and another child, his manager said Saturday.
The 32-year-old rapper is still trying to cope with the death of 4-year-old Jelani; her mother, 39-year-old Joy Deleston; and the woman's daughter Micaiah, 11, whose bodies were found Thursday night in their home, said manager Aubrey Francis.
"It really shocked him and devastated him to the point where I've never seen him before," Francis said. "Right now he is relaxing and trying to grasp everything of what has happened."
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr. is being held in the DeKalb County jail, charged in the deaths of his mother -- a Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy -- and siblings at the home near Lawrenceville, outside Atlanta. He was arrested Friday.
Deleston brought a paternity lawsuit in 2004, claiming that Juvenile, whose real name is Terius Gray, was Jelani's father, Gwinnett County court records show. Both parties later agreed Juvenile was the father.
Juvenile, who is in New Orleans, had been making regular child support payments, Francis said.
In 1998, Juvenile released his third album, "400 Degreez," which sold 4 million copies. At one time he was part of the four-man group The Hotboyz, along with Lil Wayne, Young Turk and B.G.
Attorney Randy Kessler, who represented Juvenile in the paternity suit, said Saturday he had not talked with the rapper about the killings.
"Any time you have a situation like that, it's shocking," Kessler said.
Terrell was taken to jail in neighboring DeKalb County to avoid any potential conflict because Deleston worked for Gwinnett County, said Lawrenceville police spokeswoman Illana Spellman. She could not confirm Friday whether Deleston's service weapon was used.
Because of his age, prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty against Terrell. A preliminary hearing will be set next week in Gwinnett County Superior Court, prosecutor Danny Porter said.
Defense attorney Lyle Porter did not return calls Friday and Saturday.
Footage of Amy Winehouse, the troubled singer, apparently smoking from a crack pipe was passed on to Scotland Yard, it emerged last night. The Metropolitan Police yesterday confirmed its officers were investigating the 19-minute film of Winehouse, in which she appears to smoke from a crack pipe, allegedly snorts ecstasy and cocaine and admits to taking “around six valium” at a party in her east London home.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “We are in receipt of the videotape from a media outlet and it is currently being investigated.”
Winehouse visited a drugs clinic in north-west London with her father for a two-hour appointment, reports said yesterday.
The 24-year-old’s father Mitch told The Sun: “Your video of Amy taking drugs may well be the best thing that has ever happened to her. “For all the hurt and pain, it may finally be the thing to focus her mind and convince her to get the help she needs to quit for good.” Winehouse’s spokesman told reporters the appointment at the clinic was a regular weekly session which formed part of her continuing treatment for drug addiction. On the video she appears gaunt and confused. She is heard mumbling to friends who are planning to go out that she would be "useless" because she has just taken six Valium to "bring myself down". The footage was filmed last Friday, before her husband Blake Fielder-Civil was due to appear in court. He is awaiting trial on charges of assault and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The singer is best known for her song Rehab and has won critical acclaim and chart success with her album Back to Black.
NEW YORK - Six different types of prescription drugs were found in Heath Ledger's apartment -- including anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills -- though the cause of his death won't be known for several days after a preliminary autopsy Wednesday was inconclusive, authorities said.
A rolled-up $20 bill was also found on the floor near the Australian actor's bed, but lab tests detected no traces of drug residue. Police also said no illegal drugs were found in the apartment.
Among the prescription medications found were pills to treat insomnia and anxiety, and an antihistamine, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe, the sources said.
The $20 bill was found on the floor near Ledger's bed, and New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said lab tests found nothing to indicate it had been used to snort drugs.
The Australian-born actor was found dead Tuesday by his housekeeper and a massage therapist -- lying naked and face-down on his bed, police said. The pills were found in bottles in Ledger's bedroom and bathroom, and police said the death was caused by a possible drug overdose and appeared to be accidental.
Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said the autopsy on the 28-year-old actor was inconclusive and that more would be known in about 10 days, when more tests were completed.
Police said Ledger probably died Tuesday between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. At 1 p.m., the housekeeper went into his bedroom to change a light bulb, saw him sleeping and heard him snoring.
At 2:45 p.m., the massage therapist showed up for Ledger's appointment, knocked on his door and got no answer. She later noticed Ledger was unconscious and called Mary-Kate Olsen, whose number was programmed into Ledger's cell phone, to seek advice.
Olsen said she would send over her private security. In the ensuing moments, the massage therapist realized that Ledger might be dead, and called 911. Paramedics -- and Olsen's security people -- arrived minutes later.
News of the death stunned family, fans and colleagues.
"Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life," said Ang Lee, who directed Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain." ''He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined -- a thirst for life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking."
Lee Daniels, who produced the critically acclaimed "Monster's Ball" in which Ledger starred, strongly disputed any notion that Ledger had a drug problem.
"The definition of substance abuse is really up to one's perspective," Daniels said. "I didn't see him as a drug addict. I saw him as someone who enjoyed life. I know drug addicts, he was not a drug addict."
He said he saw Ledger a couple months ago and that he was in great spirits. "He was in a good mood, he was in a great place ... he was excited about living in New York."
Before moving to Manhattan, Ledger lived in Brooklyn with then-girlfriend Michelle Williams in a four-story, sage-green brownstone with a black wrought-iron fence. Yellow tulips with red stripes were among the bouquets left by well-wishers Wednesday.
At the Brawta Caribbean Cafe two blocks from the residence, owner Jennifer Ewers said Ledger was a frequent guest who always ordered jerk chicken, rice and beans, and sorrel.
"He was a perfect gentleman. He comes in here with his hoodie on, reads a book, and gives you a peace sign," she said. "He was always with his daughter, playing hide-and-seek among the plants, or on his skateboard, peeking his head in."
Speaking in Australia, Ledger's father called the death "tragic, untimely and accidental."
"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life," Kim Ledger said. "Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."
Fans left flowers and candles Wednesday outside Ledger's apartment in the tony SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan on Wednesday. Khaled Ali, 41, a stage manager for a Broadway show, dropped off a candle on his way to work, saying he and fellow cast members were devastated.
"I felt a connection with him as an actor, as a fellow in the theater community," he said. "With 'Brokeback Mountain' he touched me personally in telling the story of my community. It was very touching."
Ledger was known for grueling, intense roles that became his trademark after he got his start in teen movies like "10 Things I Hate About You." Thereafter, he avoided the easy path in favor of roles that forced him to bury his Australian accent and downplay his leading-man looks: the tormented gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain"; a drug addict in "Candy"; an incarnation of Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There."
Playing the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie "The Dark Knight," may be his final finished performance.
Ledger split last year with Williams, who played his wife in "Brokeback." The two had a daughter, the now 2-year-old Matilda. Early Wednesday, Williams and Matilda left Trollhattan, Sweden, where the 27-year-old actress had been shooting scenes for the upcoming film "Mammoth," said Martin Stromberg, a spokesman for film production company Memfis Film.
"She received the news at her hotel late last night," Stromberg said, adding he had not spoken to the actress after she learned of Ledger's death.
The actor's personal strife was accompanied by professional anxiety. He said in a November interview that "Dark Knight" and "I'm Not There" took a toll.
"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Ledger told The New York Times. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going." He said he took two Ambien pills, which only worked for an hour.
A day after Ledger's death, at least six TV satellite trucks were parked on the block or around the corner from his Manhattan apartment, with a stream of TV reporters doing their standups. There were bouquets, letters and candles piled in front of the building.
A handwritten letter on plain white paper anchored by votive candles read:
"Heath, how could anyone hate 10 things about you. We couldn't find one bad thing about you. God bless your soul, you're in our prayers."
Pop star Britney Spears remained hospitalized Friday, hours after police were called to her home Thursday night to mediate a custody dispute.
Police initially said Spears was taken to a hospital for tests to see if she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and for a psychological evaluation after the situation at her home, but Officer April Harding said Friday she could not confirm that or other reports that Spears was hospitalized for mental evaluation.
"For her own welfare, she was transferred to a local hospital for medical treatment," Harding said, according to The Associated Press.
On Friday morning, lawyers representing Spears and her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, spent about 30 minutes in chambers Friday with Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon, who has been handling the couple's custody dispute, the AP reported. The attorneys did not comment to reporters.
Spears appeared to be conscious as she was rolled out of her Studio City home on a gurney about three hours after police and ambulances arrived there Thursday night.
According to the AP, officers were called to Spears' house around 8 p.m. to respond to a custodial dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James, Officer Jason Lee of the Los Angeles Police Department said.
By about 10:30 p.m., six police cars, two ambulances and a fire truck had entered the gated community that includes Spears' house. Several police cars were seen in the area earlier in the night.
Spears turned over the children around 10:50 p.m., Lee said.
The children were returned to Federline, who has primary legal custody of the two sons, a police spokesman said.
Aerial video provided by local television station helicopters showed Spears on a stretcher and surrounded by police and paramedics as it was rolled to an ambulance near her home. Paparazzi came out in force, following the ambulance as it left.
Another group of paparazzi met the vehicle at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, some banging on the ambulance doors, according to the AP.
Spears has been in a heated battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over custody of their two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.
Federline, Spears' former backup dancer, holds primary custody of the children. Spears has been in trouble with the court earlier concerning her compliance with court orders in the custody case.
Spears appeared for a deposition in the case earlier Thursday, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told reporters during the day, according to the AP. She was deposed for 14 minutes, Kaplan said.
Spears' attorneys, Trope and Trope, had filed a motion Wednesday asking to be relieved as her counsel due to a "breakdown" in communication with Spears
