- This undated photo provided by TMZ of pop star Rihanna was according to TMZ, “taken after Chris Brown allegedly beat her.” (
LOS ANGELES — A photo that appears to be Rihanna’s face with bruises, scratches and swelling from an attack allegedly at the hands of boyfriend Chris Brown was posted Thursday night by the celebrity Web site TMZ.
The close-up image shows a welt above each of the woman’s eyebrows, marks on her cheek and around her lips, and general swelling. TMZ did not say how it obtained the photo, when it was taken or by whom.
Hours after the photo was posted, the Los Angeles Police Department launched an internal investigation and asked for the public’s help in finding the person who leaked it. A police news release said the image “has the appearance” of one taken during a domestic violence investigation, and classified its release as a case of serious misconduct that could result in termination.
Asked earlier Thursday whether he could confirm the photo’s origin, LAPD Officer Jason Lee said only that the department had not released images of the woman who accused Brown, and would not release evidence photos. A spokeswoman for the district attorney said all evidence related to the case was still with police.
Brown was arrested Feb. 8 and booked on suspicion of making felony criminal threats to a woman that authorities have not publicly identified. A person familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and requested anonymity, confirmed that the woman was Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Fenty.
The person said some of the injuries shown in the photo — specifically the marks on the woman’s forehead — were consistent with the injuries Rihanna sustained.
Chevy pickup trucks made from 1973 through 1987 have been on the road with a seriously deadly innovation: side-saddle gas tanks. This deadliest car design of all began with good intentions: 1960s pickups’ gas tanks were typically inside the cab, behind the bench seat. An obvious safety hazard, right? GM’s eventual solution was to offer dual 20-gallon tanks mounted outboard of the frame. So, as you can guess, nail these trucks behind the cab and they could very easily go boom. Too easily, in fact
