Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Performed Bird Sacrifice Before Shyne Shooting Verdict, Bodyguard Claims

Sean “Diddy” Combs sacrificed a bird hours before he was acquitted of all charges related to the 1999 New York nightclub shooting, the music mogul’s former bodyguard has claimed.

Combs was tried alongside rapper Shyne, now known as Moses Barrow, after the shooting at Manhattan nightclub Club New York left three bystanders injured.

In the new Hulu documentary Honorable Shyne, Combs’ former bodyguard, Gene Deal, claims that while Combs was on his way to learn the trial’s verdict, he stopped in New York’s Central Park.

There, Deal said he saw Combs kneel in front of another man before smoke swirled around him. Deal believes the smoke was caused by burning sage.

The bodyguard said he saw the man holding a Bible while praying and placing his hands on Combs. He then asked Combs to remove a white bird from a cage. After Combs threw the animal into the air, it fell dead to the ground.

Hours later, Combs learned he had been acquitted of all charges.

Barrow, meanwhile, was convicted of assault and reckless endangerment and served nine years in a maximum security prison.

The Independent has contacted Combs’ representatives for comment.

Earlier this year, Barrow gave an interview in his native Belize, where he is now a politician and opposition leader, in which he said Combs had “destroyed my life.”

He told Channel 5 News: “When I was an 18-year-old kid, all I wanted to do was make my mother proud and make Belize proud and, to do what we all want to do, to be recognized for our talent and taking over the world, I was defending him, and he turned around and called witnesses to testify against me.

“He practically sent me to prison. This is the context in which you should always describe this relationship. Yes, I forgave. I continued. But let’s not pretend I’m in Miami for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“Let’s not lose sight of the cold, hard facts. He is not someone with whom I spent vacations and with whom he and I enjoyed this great intimate relationship of brotherhood.

“This is someone who destroyed my life, and who I have forgiven, and who I have moved on from, and for the best interest of Belize, because he was in a position at that time to grant scholarships and perhaps invest.

“I would not deny trying to attract investment to Belize and contribution to education in Belize.

Referencing Combs’ recent arrest on sex trafficking charges, Barrow added, “Am I happy with what he’s going through?” Absolutely not. I’m different from others: no one needs to fail for me to succeed.