Why Was Killer Mike Arrested at Grammys? What We Know

Rapper Killer Mike was arrested at Sunday night's Grammy Awards after reportedly getting into a physical altercation with a security guard.

Earlier in the evening, the 48-year-old won Best Rap Album for Michael and Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his song Scientists and Engineers. It was the first time Killer Mike—real name Michael Render—had won a Grammy in over 20 years, but the night was tarnished as he was taken away in handcuffs.

According to TMZ, Render was booked for misdemeanor battery after a confrontation with a security officer at the ceremony who didn't get out of his way quickly enough. It cited law enforcement sources, who said he knocked down a guard outside the stadium.

Following the incident, Render was subjected to a citizen's arrest and booked on misdemeanor battery charges, per TMZ.

"We got a hold of video that seems to show Mike being chased down outside in the windy rain, where security personnel can be seen attempting to stop him ... with Mike looking determined to get by them. You can't see any "knock-down" as has been described to us by law enforcement—but it does look like he faces off with security guards in tense fashion," the publication said.

Newsweek contacted the LAPD and a representative for Killer Mike for comment via email Monday.

According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, Render was in the process of being released in the early hours of Monday morning.

"On Sunday, February 4, just after 4 p.m., a male adult was detained and handcuffed for a physical altercation that occurred at the 700 block of Chick Hearn Court. The suspect was placed under arrest and was transported to LAPD Central Division," a statement said.

"The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Render and booked for Misdemeanor Battery 243(A) PC, and is in the process of being released."

On X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, The Hollywood Reporter journalist Chris Gardner said Render was taken away in handcuffs after he had won his three awards at the Grammys.

"Rapper Killer Mike has been taken away in handcuffs in http://Crypto.com arena after winning 3 #Grammys during telecast (Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for 'Scientists & Engineers,' Best Rap Album for Michael) 'Free Mike' someone shouts as he walks past," he posted to X, formerly Twitter.

While accepting his first win for Best Rap Song, Render told the audience: '"For all the people out there that think you get too old to rap—b*******. I don't care if you're 78 rapping about how many gals you got in the nursing home. Make sure we keep hip-hop alive."

Then, when he was announced as the winner of Best Rap Album, he exclaimed: "You cannot tell me that you get too old! You can't tell me it's too late! It's a sweep!"

Before Sunday, Render's last Grammy win came in 2003, when he won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "The Whole World."

Render is known for speaking out about social justice issues and he was the host of Netflix's documentary series Trigger Warning with Killer Mike in 2019, which looked at issues impacting the Black community.