Police in New York are investigating claims a senior officer told members of his team to “shoot” the rapper 50 Cent.
It is alleged Deputy Inspector Emanuel Gonzalez made the remark in June last year at a police roll-call for a boxing match which the star was due to attend.
50 Cent said on Sunday he was taking the threat “very seriously” and was consulting with his lawyers.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) says the matter “is under internal review”.
According to the BBC, Deputy Inspector Gonzalez told his officers to shoot the rapper “on sight” but later tried to pass it off as a joke.
It is claimed at least one other person at the event reported the comment to the NYPD internal affairs department.
One month before, Inspector Gonzalez reportedly filed an aggravated harassment complaint against 50 Cent.
