August 22, 2008

50 Cent Meets With Authorities Investigating Fire At His House: Report

By MTV News staff (MTV.com)

Despite media reports that he has been delaying the investigation of the fire at his house in Long Island, New York, earlier this year, 50 Cent's reps reportedly issued a statement Thursday (August 21) saying he met with officials on Wednesday.

"50 and his attorneys met yesterday with Suffolk County authorities regarding the fire that destroyed 50's house," the statement reads, according to TMZ. "The meeting had been arranged weeks ago. 50 is eager to review the findings of the investigation, when it is concluded."

The MC was in Louisiana working on a film at the time of the fire and has denied any involvement, although relations between him and Shaniqua Tompkins, who lived at the house with her and 50's 11-year-old son Marquise, have been strained. More hearings about the case will take place next month, TMZ said.

50 talked with MTV News about the situation earlier this summer.

"I'm not going through a custody battle; just a transition," 50 said. "I'd like to be able to just see my baby."

In June, Tompkins took out a temporary restraining order against 50 in the wake of the fire, which authorities classified as "suspicious." "He said that he was going to have someone come kill me, and see what he does? This is what he did," she told reporters.

50 responded through lawyers and online, calling the accusations ridiculous. "It's a surprise," 50 told MTV News about the fire. "Nobody anticipates a house burning down.

"I really don't wanna talk about it, because my son at some point will have the opportunity to see the tapes," he said. "She's still his mother, and I'm still his father, regardless. He's gonna love both of us. My relationship with my son is changing because he and his mom aren't friends anymore. There's different channels I have to go through. He has lawyers appointed to him through the court. So I have to talk to his lawyer to get things situated for me to for me to actually get him. The relationship between my wallet and his mom has changed. When people have expensive habits, it's a hell of a transition for them when that money is not there anymore. She said all kind of things about me I never would expect."