Rapper Erick Sermon Injured In A Fall, Not A Car Crash, Police Say

Jet, Oct 22, 2001

Rap star Erick Sermon was critically injured when he plunged from a third-story window, and police said they are investigating the incident as a suicide attempt.

Paterson (NJ) police's account contradicts an earlier stow from the recording artist's record label that Sermon, 32, was injured in a car crash on a rain-slicked road in Paterson.

Police said they were called on a report of an attempted suicide. They were unable to interview Sermon, who is being treated for head and facial injuries at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center.

But a woman told police the rapper had been in her apartment. She left briefly and returned to find him gone and a window open. The woman, whom police did not identify, said she looked out the window and saw Sermon lying on his back in the parking lot, bleeding from the head.

Sermon, who lives in Ronkonkoma, NY, was listed in fair condition at JET press time.

A publicist for J Records initially told the Associated Press that Sermon was heading home after finishing a video shoot in upstate New York when he fell asleep at the wheel and ran into a wall.

Representatives for J Records did not immediately return calls.

Sermon got his start in the late '80s as part of the hit rap duo EPMD.

Sermon's latest hit Music features the late Marvin Gaye. His new album is set for release later this month.