Updated: Kandi Burruss Issues Statement

On Our Haute List

Updated: Kandi Burruss Issues Statement

Posted at 10/02/2009 by Staff 1 Comment

The following is a statement from Kandi Burruss about the death of her former fiance:

“I am devastated by the loss of AJ. His death comes on the heels of the death of my beloved Uncle Ralph and with both of them gone, my heart is heavy with grief.

I had spoken to AJ two hours before I got the call that he was in the hospital. Never in a thousand years did I think it was going to be the last time I heard his voice. He was taken way too soon. There are so many things that I should have said to him, wanted to say to him… But now it’s too late.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of my family and friends — and that means my Twitter and Facebook friends as well — for the beautiful words of encouragement, prayers, and the sweet condolences. I make it through these difficult days because of you. I know this is cliche, but I urge everyone to treat each day as if it’s your last and tell that special someone you love them today. Don’t wait. It may be too late.

Please pray for his children, his family and Riley – they too are grieving the loss of an incredible man, son, brother and father. I wish you all had gotten to know the AJ we all knew and loved.”

Update from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Atlanta police charged a strip club employee with voluntary manslaughter Saturday in the beating death of the former fiancé of the newest member of the reality television show The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Ashley “A.J.” Jewell, who was engaged to Kandi Burruss until last August, died of massive head injuries at Piedmont Hospital. He was fatally injured in a “one-on-one” fight with Fredrick Richardson Friday night, police said.

Richardson also was injured as the two exchanged blows outside the strip bar, the Body Tap Club, Friday night. Richardson was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he will remain until doctors say he can be discharged. Then Richardson will be taken to the Fulton County Jail, according to police spokesman Officer James Polite.

The hospital would not release Richardson’s condition, but police said he is conscious and alert.

Polite said detectives were still “trying to figure out [what happened]. We had a pretty good number of witnesses that are being cooperative.”

But the cause of the fight in the parking lot of the club in the 1200 block of Marietta Boulevard was still not known Saturday, Polite said.

Jewell was part-owner of Body Tap, a club popular with celebrities.

Burruss was flooded with condolences on her social networking pages on Twitter.com and MySpace.com.

Burruss thanked friends for their condolences and asked for prayers for Jewell’s six children.

According to My Fox Atlanta:

Police confirmed Friday night that “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star, Kandi Burress’ ex-fiance A.J. Jewell was killed at an Atlanta night club. Police said Jewell died after a fight at the Body Tap club on Marietta Boulevard.

Police said Jewell suffered a severe head injury during the fight and was taken to Piedmont Hospital, where he later died.

Investigators said they had no suspects is in custody Friday night.