Puffy, Lopez Arrested On Weapons Charge

Sean "Puffy" Combs and Jennifer Lopez were arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon today after a gun was allegedly found in their vehicle. The incident occurred shortly after the two left a nightclub where three people were shot and wounded.

In addition to possession of a weapon, Combs and Lopez were charged with criminal possession of stolen property, according to New York Police Department spokesperson Carmen Melendez.

Combs and Lopez were stopped in a sport utility vehicle with driver Wardel Fenderson and bodyguard Anthony Jones about 10 minutes after the shooting at Club NY, a local nightclub.

Fenderson and Jones were also charged with criminal possession of a weapon and stolen property. Jones was also charged with criminal possession of marijuana and a controlled substance.

None of the four had a license for the gun, which was described as a 9 mm.

Officers stopped the Navigator because it was leaving the scene of the shooting. The vehicle ran at least one red light before finally stopping.

Jamal Barrow, 19, a rapper who records under the name Shine, was arrested at the club. He was charged with criminal possession of a 9 mm gun. Police would not confirm whether or not he was involved with the shooting.

The motive for the shooting was unknown, police said.

Calls to Lopez' and Combs' representatives were not returned by press time.
<P align=right><i> -- Larry Flick, N.Y.