Busta Rhymes Faces Assault Charge After Brooklyn Incident

Busta Rhymes is facing an assault charge in New York and will soon appear in court. The New York Police Department told USA TODAY that Busta Rhymes (whose real name is Trevor Smith Jr.) turned himself in at Brooklyn's 84th precinct on Tuesday night. He was charged with third-degree assault and given a desk appearance ticket, meaning he has to appear in criminal court for an arraignment. The case is still "ongoing," according to the outlet's report.

Third-degree assault is a misdemeanor in New York. It happens when someone intentionally hurts another person, "recklessly causes physical injury," or injures someone using a "deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument," as explained by New York state law.

TMZ reported that the charge comes from an incident on January 10, when a 50-year-old person was punched multiple times near the corner of Jay and Front Streets in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood after an argument. An NYPD spokesperson said, "The victim sustained swelling to the left side of the face" and was taken by EMS to NYC Health and Hospitals/Woodhull in stable condition.

This isn’t the first time the rapper has faced assault charges. In 2015, he was accused of second-degree assault for allegedly throwing a cardboard container of protein drink at a gym employee in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood.