Darrell "Chris" Lighty's death was ruled a suicide, but his brother doesn't believe that the late talent manager took his own life. David Lighty has launched a petition to reopen the investigation into Lighty's passing and "requesting that the city of New York provide the needed materials" for the family to do "gun residue tests" in addition to an "independent autopsy" to be conducted by forensic pathologist Michael Bade.

The 44-year-old father of six was found dead outside his New York condo in August 2012, with a 9mm pistol next to his body. The shooting was ruled a suicide, by way of a single shot to the head, however, releasing details from his death will allow for a closer look “at the facts and help my family get some closure as we do not feel that Darrell committed suicide,” the petition states.

Lighty was the co-founder of Violator management company, home to the likes of Nas, Missy Elliott, LL Cool J and 50 Cent. His many credits include brokering the Vitamin Water mega-deal that netted Fif $100 million.  

Several of his friends and family don’t buy the suicide story, which was said to be the result of money and relationship troubles. A month after his death, Fif hired a private investigator to dig into the case. The investigator concluded early that there was no “possibility that Chris Lighty would commit suicide over money” or because of his wife, Veronica Lighty.  

Lighty and his wife got into an argument before he died. The two had a “passionate relationship” according to Veronica, who was inside the unit when the fatal gunshot was fired. “My husband was obsessed and adored me,” she explained in an interview two years ago. “He was one of the most beautiful people that I have ever met in my life. Let him die proud, at peace because that’s what he needed and that’s what he wanted. He just wanted peace and he wanted to relieve all that stress.”

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(Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)