Busta Rhymes has been criticised by New York Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who believes that the hip hop star is withholding information over the previously reported death of bodyguard Israel Ramirez during the filming of a new Rhymes pop promo. The Commissioner called the rapper's silence on the subject "disturbing", telling a press conference at NYPD HQ: "[Ramirez] worked for him. I'd think he'd be knocking on the door. If your employee's murdered in front of you, you'd think you might want to talk to the police."
He went on to say that witnesses, amongst them high profile members of the hip-hop world, may be forced to answer questions in front of a grand jury if they continue to maintain their silence. Ramirez, 29, was shot and killed on 5 Feb during an altercation which took place outside a warehouse where Rhymes was filming a promo for his new single 'Touch It'. Police believe that the incident arose from an argument between Ruff Ryders president Swizz Beatz and G-Unit's Tony Yayo, and that the shooter was an associate of Yayo's. Investigators are in the process of obtaining a court order to gain possession of footage shot that day, as they believe it could help them to identify suspects.