'Shyne' Apologizes

By Stephen M. Silverman

04/09/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow, 22, apologized on Monday to his family and fans for his involvement in the notorious Dec. 27, 1999, shooting at Club New York that left three people injured. Writing from his jail cell where he is awaiting sentencing -- which was originally slated for Monday, but has now been rescheduled for June 1 -- Barrow also said in a handwritten "Dear America" letter, "I apologize to the victims . . . I didn't cause your pain, but you can place your blame on my shoulders." The Bad Boy Entertainment artist says that he was acting in self-defense, reports New York's Daily News. On March 16, a jury found Barrow guilty of first-degree assault with depraved indifference and second-degree assault. He faces a minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 25 years to life for the shootings. One of Barrow's co-defendants in the case, his mentor Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, was acquitted of all charges.