Patti LaBelle [ordered bodyguards to assault innocent person] Sued By West Pointer Over Guard Attack

Never come between the "Godmother of Soul" and her luggage. That's the lesson a West Point cadet says he learned at Houston airport when he charges Patti LaBelle's security guards roughed him up.

Richard King, 23, is suing LaBelle over the incident, captured on surveillance video last March 11 at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

King, a Houston resident who is a senior at the military academy, had come home for spring break when he wandered close to LaBelle's limousine. He was talking to his brother on his cellphone when her bodyguards "sprang into action," according to the civil suit he filed this week against the singer and her entourage.

"Apparently defendant LaBelle believed King was standing too close to her (no doubt expensive) luggage, even though he was oblivious to her presence," the lawsuit says. "LaBelle lowered the window of her limousine and gave a command to a trio of bodyguards. " The suit says LaBelle "watched the vicious assault, with approval, from her limousine."

The video shows King being punched and falling against a concrete pillar. He tries three times to get up and finally moves away from the scene. After an ambulance takes him away, the video shows Houston cops posing with LaBelle for a photo. Blood is seen on the ground nearby.

King, who suffered a concussion, has no memory of the incident. "I remember waking up the next morning with staples in my head," he said. He is "shocked" when he watches the video. "I've never been in a fight in my life," he says.

West Point has taken disciplinary action against King after they were notified of the incident by Houston cops, Raley says. He is being busted to private and deployed to active duty. He had been scheduled to graduate in December with the rank of second lieutenant.

I sent West Point an email:

Dear West Point Public Affairs:

My wife and I are big supporters of veterans and our men and women currently serving in the military. We raise money for the USO, set up historical displays at schools, museums, parades and numerous other public events. We also do other volunteer work supporting military families.

We read of the attack on Cadet Richard King who was beaten by Patti LaBelle’s body guard thugs apparently at her direction. We watched video taken by airport security cameras and read accounts of eye witnesses. Then we read of West Point’s disciplinary action taken while King was still in the hospital. The disciplinary action was obviously decided on with no investigation, no due process, and no prior contact with Cadet King.

We have the honor of knowing many West Point graduates. We have always been very proud of them and their alma mater. Today we are disgusted and ashamed of the actions taken by West Point administrators. This surely is one of the darkest moments in all of West Point’s history. West Point administrators have permanently stained the reputation of the institution.

We will be calling and writing numerous contacts that we have in and out of the military, and our congressional representatives. It is so sad that a fine young man was viciously attacked and has permanent injuries that may end his military and athletic aspirations. But how does this compare to the injustice that has been done to the institution’s over 200 year old reputation by irresponsible administrators? They are the ones who should know better... they are the ones whose careers should now be ending.

If there are no substantial consequences for those responsible for this travesty... it will be obvious to all that honor is now only given lip service by those currently entrusted with upholding the sacred traditions at West Point. It will be obvious that these individuals think that honor is a concept for students and something that does not apply to themselves. We never thought that we would live to see the day that West Point was run by hypocrites who took their responsibilities so lightly. Shame! Shame!

Sincerely,

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