A member of the paparazzi is dead after attempting to take photos of Justin Bieber's Ferrari in Los Angeles on New Year's Day.
According to early initial reports, Bieber wasn't in the vehicle at the time when the incident took place on Sepulveda Boulevard. The photographer was crossing the road after snapping photos of the parked car when he was hit. He died in hospital on Tuesday evening but no name has been released. Los Angeles police officer James Stoughton said no charges are expected to be filed against the driver who hit the photographer.
TMZ reports a friend of Bieber — who TMZ reported this morning to be rapper Lil Twist — was driving while another friend was in the passenger seat when California Highway Patrol pulled the vehicle over for speeding on the 405 freeway. Sources told TMZ that as police conducted the traffic stop the photographer began crossing the road to take photos. The officer told the photographer to go back to his own vehicle on the other side. The photographer was returning to the car when the collision took place.
"While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim," Bieber said in a statement. "Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves."
The incident caused others to comment on what transpired with Miley Cyrus quite vocal in her defence of Bieber.
Meanwhile Disturbed singer David Draiman had even less sympathy.
When a fan replied the photographer was essentially doing his job, Draiman continued.
In further tweets he said "NOT SAYING HE "DESERVED" IT, BUT I WON'T MOURN THE LOSS OF A PIECE OF SHIT PARASITE. YOU DONT HAVE TO AGREE."
A subsequent tweet by Draiman stated: "IT'S ABOUT A PIECE OF SHIT WHO ISNT EVEN A REAL JOURNALIST, WHO MAKES THEIR LIVING PIMPING OUT IMAGES."
Bieber has made no further comment on the incident. His manager Scooter Braun has also not commented via Twitter.
