Murder in Hollywood: The violent death of Stephanie Moseley
He was a socialite and rapper on the cusp of the big time. She was an accomplished model, actress and dancer. Police say they both met their demise via gunshot in a murder-suicide in the couple's Los Angeles apartment in December 2014.
Earl Hayes ran in boxer Floyd Mayweather's clique, the Money Team. Hayes was married to Stephanie Moseley, who was becoming a part of black Hollywood. She had a resume that dazzled: Backup singer to Beyonce, Britney Spears and Janet Jackson; played opposite Jamie Foxx in a TV special. She was also a star on VH1's "Hit the Floor" reality TV show.
Now in a shocking development, the couple were dead from gunshot wounds. The shooting had paralyzed L.A. traffic and caused the 600-unit apartment complex to be evacuated. Police say that Hayes shot his wife to death, then turned the gun on himself.
Moseley had moved to L.A. as a teenager in 2002 and had slowly been making a name for herself in medium-sized projects. But her stunning looks were hard to ignore. She soon established herself as a hardworking dancer, working for Jennifer Lopez and Chris Brown.
Hayes, 34, and Moseley, 30, had gotten married in 2008. Their union was not without its problems, but no one could have foreseen this kind of tragedy, fellow model/actress Eva Marcille said in media reports.
"No situation's perfect," said Marcille Pigford, a good friend of Moseley. "Stephanie was an absolute angel. She really was … She's connected so many people. She's just loved. She will never, ever, ever, ever be forgotten."
According to reports, a resident at the apartment complex where the couple lived heard a woman screaming before "at least 10 gunshots" were heard.
A SWAT team tried to enter the apartment and made it inside until they encountered a locked bedroom door. When they tried to enter the door, they heard two final shots, KTLA reported.
Burrell Wilks, a friend of Hayes who described himself as Hayes' mentor and life coach, said that the rapper was on his way to the big time. "He was a great entertainer," Wilks told KTLA. "He worked with the likes of Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys."
"No one seen this coming — because, again, Hayes is not a violent guy," Wilks told the TV station. "We're all devastated. We're at a loss for words on this one."
US Weekly reported that it was Marcille Pigford who had to identify Moseley's body.
Fighting back tears, Marcille Pigford told Entertainment Tonight that she had taken Moseley under her wing when she got to L.A.
"I met Stephanie Moseley in 2002. She had just moved to L.A. — she was a part of a dance group called Best Kept Secret. My cousin was doing her makeup, and I just thought she was the most gorgeous girl. She didn't have any friends in L.A."
Every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted in the United States, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. About 20 people per minute become victims of domestic violence are place every day, the group's website says.
While we will never know what went on between these two married people's relationship, media reports highlight Moseley's past fling with singer Trey Songz as the powder keg that sent Hayes into a jealous rage.
What makes this case unique is that Hayes reportedly Facetimed Mayweather when the confrontation started. From all accounts, Hayes called Mayweather in a rage and told him his plans of taking his wife's life over a situation involving a singer. The boxer reportedly pleaded with Hayes not to kill his wife. While it is unclear what Mayweather saw, reports indicate that he heard at least some of the altercation.
Adding to the tragedy, Mayweather was allegedly FaceTiming with Hayes when the murder happened and may have witnessed part of it. Los Angeles police arelooking to interview the boxer about the incident. TMZ reports:
According to our Floyd sources, Earl said he was going to kill his wife. The champ was pleading with him to get a grip ... to no avail. Floyd will not say how much he saw, but he acknowledges he was a witness and heard everything.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The initial investigation suggested Hayes shot Moseley to death and then took his own life, police said.
"We are incredibly saddened to hear the news of the passing of Stephanie Moseley," VH1 said in a statement. "VH1 and the entire Hit the Floor family send our thoughts and condolences to her family and friends at this difficult time."
Friends of the couple told L.A. TV station KTLA that they had been having problems.
