LOS ANGELES (BN24) — Rapper and singer Lil Nas X was charged Monday with four felony counts after Los Angeles police said he attacked officers who confronted him while he was walking naked along a busy street in Studio City last week.
Prosecutors filed three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one felony count of resisting an executive officer against the 26-year-old musician, whose legal name is Montero Lamar Hill, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He was initially booked Friday on suspicion of misdemeanor obstruction before prosecutors escalated the charges.
Authorities said officers encountered Lil Nas X shortly before 6 a.m. Friday on Ventura Boulevard, a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles. Police said he charged at them when they attempted to intervene, leading to his arrest. Believing he may have overdosed, officers transported him to a hospital, where he was treated for several hours before being taken into custody. He has remained in jail since.
An arraignment was scheduled for Monday, but representatives for the musician did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The charges were first reported by TMZ.
Lil Nas X rose to international fame with his 2018 breakout hit “Old Town Road,” which fused country and hip-hop and held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record 19 weeks. His debut studio album Montero, released in 2021, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. Known for his bold performances and genre-defying style, he has been a prominent figure in reshaping pop, rap, and country crossovers in mainstream music.
If convicted on the felony charges, the Atlanta-born artist could face several years in state prison.
