Chicago-based singer, Ann Marie, was arrested in connection to an incident where her friend was shot in the head. The artist, whose real name is Joann Marie Slater was arrested on December 1st, 2020, following the shooting at a Georgia hotel.
The 25-year-old songwriter was booked on charges of simple battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and assault with a deadly weapon.
The 24-year-old victim identified as Jonathon Wright had visited Atlanta with the singer. He was found lying in bed with a gunshot wound to the forehead. According to reports, Ann Marie told an officer that “a gun fell off the table in the hotel room causing it to go off, striking the victim”.
In a newly released 911 call obtained by TMZ, Ann Marie is pleading for help from operators as she says ‘I love you’ to her friend while trying to explain what happened.
Scroll down for a recent photo of Ann Marie after the incident.
The R&B singer was found emotional at the Intercontinental Buckley Hotel by Police who were responding to shots fired in the area. Investigators later found two shell casings in the room which raised suspicion about the singer’s accident theory.
According to police “A projectile was also found by the bathroom door on the carpet and one in the bathroom tub. There was one bullet hole in the door jam, and also one in the cabinet top right corner in the bathroom”
Jonathan Wright was somewhat responsive when police arrived at the scene. He had an entry wound on his forehead and an exit wound on his left temple. After emergency teams arrived, he was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. The police claimed the singer could not provide her or the victim’s ID but stated that they grew up together in Chicago.
Fans responded with support for the musician. “I pray Ann Marie is innocent, that’s a sad situation”.
“Ann Marie didn’t shoot her best friend on purpose you can tell from the 911 call,” one fan said.
Some of her followers however claimed that she allegedly shot him because he was cheating. “First, she is lying because can’t no gun drop on the table and shoot a person in their head directly, so she needs to keep it real,” said one person under an Instagram post about the incident.
This is not the singer’s first run-in with the law having been released in November on bond. Jail records indicate that Ann Marie has been charged before with a simple battery in Atlanta in connection with her ex-boyfriend.
Ann Marie’s label, Interscope Records is yet to put out a statement regarding the arrest of their artist. Her family is yet to respond publicly to the charges she is facing.
