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Update on Jacko stun gun case: Blanket Jackson never stunned by cousin
by Natalie James - March 3, 2010 - comments
Officials from the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services were called Monday night to the Jackson family home to investigate if Jaafar Jackson purchased the weapon.
Countless reports have swarmed the cyberspace Tuesday claiming that the late King of Pop Michael Jackson’s children were exposed to a stun gun at their family home. But an attorney for the late singer's mother has slammed these reports, insisting that the Jackson kids were never exposed to the weapon.
Popular gossip Website TMZ recently cited several sources as saying that Jermaine Jackson's teenage son Jaafar ordered stun gun online, and late singer’s son, Blanket was the intended target.
Blanket was target?
But, attorney Adam Streisand representing Jackson's mother Katherine has rubbished reports that Jermaine's 13-year-old son Jaafar tried to use a stun gun on the late pop icon's youngest son Blanket.
The Jackson kids, Prince Michael Joseph, 13, Paris Michael Katherine, 12, and Prince Michael II, (known as Blanket), 8, are currently in the custody of their grandmother Katherine Jackson and live with her in their Encino, California, home following the singer's June 2009 death.
It’s been reported that Jaafar allegedly purchased the gadget online and it was delivered to the Jackson family home in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles last month.
Multiple reports popped up on Tuesday suggesting that the gun was confiscated by security after they saw kids using the gun on the second floor of the house. A source told TMZ that one of the security guards "stopped Jermaine's kids from stunning Blanket" and confiscated the gun.
Kids not exposed to stun gun
Attorney Streisand issued a statement Tuesday to respond to reports that Jaafar attempted to shock his younger cousin Blanket, who is MJ's youngest child.
Branding the reports "erroneous media stories", Streisand argued that the gun was intercepted by security guards before the Jackson kids could get their hands on it.
"Two weeks ago, Jermaine Jackson's 13-year old son, Jaafar, who lives with his mother Alejandra at the home of Mrs. Katherine Jackson, received a package with a stun gun he ordered online," Streisand said. "Jaafar opened the package alone in his bathroom and tested it on a piece of paper."
Kids are healthy and happy
Streisand continued, "Blanket Jackson never saw or heard the stun gun. Neither did Paris Jackson. Prince saw the stun gun in the possession of security. There is no second stun gun.
"Mrs. Jackson and security heard the sound coming from the second floor of the house. Immediately, security went upstairs and confiscated the stun gun. Mrs. Jackson took control over it and then had it removed from the house. There was no other incident.
"All of the kids are happy, healthy and wonderful and that is Mrs. Jackson's only objective and concern."
Investigation underway
The attorney confirmed that child services workers are investigating the presence of the stun gun at Hayvenhurst, the Jackson family compound in Encino, California.
Officials from the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services were called Monday night to the Jackson family home to investigate reports that Jaafar Jackson purchased the weapon.
DCFS officers on Tuesday night reportedly interviewed Jackson family matriarch Katherine Jackson, 80, and other family members.
Streisand said DCFS officials have not yet provided him or Katherine with an update on the agency's inquiry.
The Jackson children, who have been under the care of their aged grandmother Katherine since their father's death June 25 at age 50, often appeared masked or veiled in public before their legendary father passed away.
Their fiercely protective father, Michael Jackson, rarely brought them out in public, and whenever he did he covered their faces in veils and party masks to protect their identity.