Snoop Dogg gets major relief 28 years after acquittal in murder case for 1993 shooting of gang member

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Snoop Dogg’s long-running battle with the legal system has come to an end after a court granted his petition to officially seal his 1993 murder charge.

The rapper, now 52, was acquitted nearly three decades ago after being accused of shooting and killing gang member Philip Woldemariam.

Snoop Dogg's role in Philip Woldemariam's murder

The incident took place at Woodbine Park in Los Angeles, and Snoop Dogg, along with his bodyguard McKinley Lee, faced first and second-degree murder charges in a high-profile trial in 1996.

The legal drama coincided with the release of Snoop's debut album, launching his career to new heights despite the intense media scrutiny. Following his acquittal, the 'Riders on the Storm' rapper continued to dominate the music scene.

Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, requested to have the case sealed in January 2024, with a judge approving the motion by late February, revealed TMZ.

By sealing the records, the charges will no longer appear in public background checks for employment, housing, or education.

This decision marks a significant moment in the 17-time Grammy Award nominee's legal journey, one that began in his younger days when he became involved with the notorious LA gang, the Crips.

Snoop Dogg's legal trouble

Snoop Dogg's trajectory has been far from smooth. Shortly after completing high school in 1989, he was arrested for attempting to sell cocaine to an undercover cop. His repeated run-ins with the law eventually led him to pursue a career in rap - encouraged by fellow Crips members during a stint in jail.

That decision catapulted him to superstardom, but not before he was charged as an accessory to Woldemariam’s murder, who'd allegedly been killed by one of the star's bodyguards in 1993. During the trial, prosecutors claimed Snoop was driving the vehicle from which the fatal shots were fired.

Controversially, he was permitted to tour the UK during the case, prompting fierce backlash from British tabloids stating, 'Kick this evil b*****d out'. Snoop even claimed that the late Queen Elizabeth II personally intervened on his behalf to allow him entry into the country.

Snoop Dogg reflects on ordeal after acquittal

The tension in the courtroom was palpable when a 24-year-old Snoop Dogg clasped his hands in prayer after he and Lee were acquitted of all charges.

"They made the right decision, you know what I’m saying? This has been an ordeal that has affected our lives for the past 2 1/2 years. I was just trying to figure out if I was going to be here to raise my son," reflecting on the ordeal, he told the LA Times.

Snoop, a father of four, shares three children — Corde, Cordell, and Cori — with his wife of 27 years, Shante Broadus. He also has a son, Julian, from a previous relationship with Laurie Holmond. Snoop and Shante have had their ups and downs but ultimately renewed their vows in 2008 after a brief separation.

"I thought I was the man, and I was willing to give up what I had at home for that until I realized that what I had at home was irreplaceable," the rapper admitted reflecting on their reconciliation.