Rapper Rick Ross arrested on October 1, 2026, facing domestic violence charges

Rapper Rick Ross was taken into custody on October 1, 2026, following allegations of domestic violence after being accused of physically assaulting a former romantic partner. 

The 50-year-old artist, whose birth name is William Leonard Roberts II, turned himself in to the Miami Beach Police Department and is facing one felony charge of battery by strangulation alongside one misdemeanor charge of battery.

Based on the police arrest affidavit, the alleged incident occurred on the morning of August 28, 2026, at Ross's residence on Star Island, where the two had been sharing a home. The woman who was harmed filed an official police report on September 29, 2026.

Ross allegedly became upset after the woman appeared in an Instagram post. He expressed suspicion that she was involved with another person. The woman reported that Ross struck her face with his hand, hit her chest repeatedly, and pushed her forcefully against a wall using her ponytail. 

He allegedly limited her ability to breathe by seizing and twisting the collar of her hoodie. The report also indicates he forced her down to the floor, activated the shower, and tried to spray her with the shower head.

The woman who made the accusation provided investigators with a signed statement, timestamped images documenting her injuries, and home security footage showing a friend who came to help her being refused entry. While court documents referred to her only as "J.K.", previous public posts on social media from his former partner, model Jazzma Kendrick, had described comparable abuse incidents and shared images of a split lip.

Ross participated in a Miami-Dade bond hearing through video conference on Thursday, October 1, where a judge determined there was sufficient evidence and established his bond amount at $5,000. He was discharged after paying the bail. The judge additionally issued a protective order requiring him to maintain distance from the woman and turn over any guns.

As Rick Ross walked out of the jailhouse, he spoke with compassion and conviction to reporters, expressing his position: "I am totally innocent of these fabricated allegations made against me." His dedicated defense team, comprising attorneys Steve Sadow and Bradley Horenstein, issued a statement expressing their concern that Ross is being unfairly targeted by accusations from a former partner whose true intentions remain unclear. 

They highlighted a troubling detail—that she waited an entire month following the alleged incident before reaching out to law enforcement. The formal arraignment hearing has been set for October 22, 2026.