A close friend was trying to talk to "wigging out" record executive Shakir Stewart moments before he committed suicide Saturday, according to a Cobb County police report.
Herb Smith of Dacula said in the report that he had come over to Stewart's Marietta home Saturday at the request of Stewart's fiancee, Michelle Rivers, to talk to the Island Def Jam Records vice president about his change in behavior that concerned his fiancee.
Smith told police that he noticed a "behavioral change" in Stewart when he arrived at the house and that Stewart was "wigging out."
In the police report, Smith said while trying to talk to him, Stewart began telling him to leave. He told Smith to go "back home to his wife and children," according to the report, because he did not need to be at Stewart's house.
When Smith stepped outside the house at 3860 Lindsey Drive to call 911, he heard a gunshot from inside the house, the report said. Smith told police that Rivers was in the kitchen at the time of the shooting. Smith found the 34-year-old Stewart on the master bedroom floor.
Rivers told police that she noticed "a change in" Stewart when he arrived home Oct. 31, but he wouldn't tell her if anything was wrong. They went out for Halloween and Rivers called Smith after they returned home.
A private funeral was held Thursday, and Smith could not be reached by telephone. Autopsy results are expected in 12 weeks.
Last week, Rivers released a statement through the record label that read: "Over the past several weeks, Shakir's behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love. As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence."
Stewart made several local talent discoveries—including Def Jam stars Young Jeezy and Rick Ross—and is credited with helping to put the Atlanta music scene on the map.
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