Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist, Jake E. Lee, was the victim of a shooting incident in a Las Vegas neighborhood early Tuesday morning. According to Las Vegas police, the incident occurred around 2:40 a.m., approximately 10 miles south of the Strip. Lee was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
A representative for Lee confirmed the incident, stating that the 67-year-old musician was conscious and expected to make a full recovery. The representative, Amanda Cagan, revealed that the shooting took place while Lee was out walking his dog. The representative also requested privacy for Lee and his family as the incident is currently under police investigation.
Tim Heyne, the manager of Lee’s rock band, Red Dragon Cartel, echoed the representative’s sentiments, expressing gratitude that no major organs were hit and that Lee is expected to recover fully. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the police investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
Born in Norfolk, Virginia, and raised in San Diego, Lee has been a prominent figure in the rock music scene since the 1980s. He played guitar in several glam metal bands in Los Angeles, including an early version of Ratt. Lee joined Ozzy Osbourne’s band in 1982 and remained a member until 1987, contributing to albums such as 1983’s “Bark at the Moon.” After his stint with Osbourne, Lee played in the metal band Badlands and released a couple of solo albums.
Osbourne expressed his shock at the news of Lee’s shooting, despite not having seen him for 37 years. He lamented the incident as another senseless act of gun violence and expressed hope for Lee’s recovery. In 2022, Osbourne, the original vocalist for hard rock pioneers Black Sabbath, announced his decision to move back to England after living in Los Angeles for over two decades, citing his frustration with the rampant gun violence in the United States.
Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, revealed in July that Ozzy’s health issues, including multiple surgeries and a Parkinson’s diagnosis, have delayed their relocation plans.