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Home • Celebrity

Former NBA Star Rasual Butler and Wife, 'American Idol' Finalist Leah LaBelle, Killed In Car Crash

Former NBA Star Rasual Butler and Wife, 'American Idol' Finalist Leah LaBelle, Killed In Car Crash
Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images
By Charli Penn · Updated October 24, 2020

Sad news out of Studio City, Calif. today.

Early Wednesday, former NBA star Rasual Butler and his wife, R&B singer Leah LaBelle, were killed in a car accident.

Reports say, Butler was driving at the time of the accident and lost control of their Range Rover around 2a.m.. The car hit a parking meter, slammed into a wall and flipped.

According to TMZ, police officers say Butler, 38, may have been speeding before the accident.

During his NBA career, Butler played for nine different teams, including the Miami Heat, Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs. LaBelle, 31, who came in 12th place on the third season of American Idol, was discovered by Grammy-Award winning producers Pharrell and Jermaine Dupri on YouTube after they listened to her popular covers of Etta James, Indie Arie and John Legend hits.

Athletes and other celebrities, like fellow singer Mack Wilds who says he saw the couple just last night, have begun reacting and sending condolences on social media.

RIP @leahlabelle & Rasual Butler 😔 just saw you all last night! 🙏🏾

— Mack. (@MACKWILDS) January 31, 2018

 

Rest easy my brother. See you when I get there!!! pic.twitter.com/Npsnib7k5t

— Allen Iverson (@alleniverson) January 31, 2018

 

It is unclear when the couple tied the knot, but Butler leaves behind a daughter from a previous relationship, Raven Butler.

LaBelle’s last Instagram post was shared on January 4, 2018 and promoted a message of peace for the New Year.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LL (@leahlabelle)

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LL (@leahlabelle)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rasual Butler (@rasualbutler8)