Ozzy Osbourne’s Former Guitarist Jake E. Lee Shot in Las Vegas
Jake E. Lee — a former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne — was shot multiple times in Las Vegas early Tuesday morning (Oct. 15) while walking his dog, TMZ reports. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The outlet writes that the shooting occurred around 2:40 a.m. as Lee took his dog out for a walk. He has since been hospitalized and is currently fully conscious while being treated in an intensive care unit inside the city.
Police do not believe Lee was specifically targeted in what appears to have been a random street crime. The incident is now under investigation, and no arrests have been reported.
Billboard has reached out to the Las Vegas Metro Police for comment.
In a statement shared with TMZ, Osbourne expressed his sympathy for his onetime guitarist. “It’s been 37 years since I’ve seen Jake E. Lee, but that still doesn’t take away from the shock of hearing what happened to him today,” the Black Sabbath frontman said. “It’s just another senseless act of gun violence.
“I send my thoughts to him and his beautiful daughter, Jade,” Osbourne added. “I just hope he’ll be ok.”
In addition to playing for the “Mama, I’m Coming Home” singer, Lee was also part of the heavy metal band Badlands. He released the albums Retraced and Guitar Warrior under his solo moniker in 2005 and 2007, respectively. After a “self-imposed exile from the music industry and the public eye,” per his Spotify bio, Lee returned with a new band called Red Dragon Cartel, releasing a self-titled album in 2013 followed by Patina in 2018.
As he recovers from his injuries, Lee and his family ask for privacy, TMZ reports.
Hannah Dailey
Billboard