Snoop Dogg went to jail in connection with a 1993 incident where he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder related to the shooting death of a rival gang member, Philip Woldermariam. The actual shooting was carried out by Snoop Dogg's bodyguard, McKinley Lee, while Snoop was driving the vehicle from which the shot was fired. Both Snoop Dogg and his bodyguard were charged, but after a trial that lasted from November 1995 to February 1996, they were acquitted of all charges. The case involved complex legal issues, including gang affiliations and claims of self-defense, and was notable for the mishandling of evidence by the Los Angeles Police Department. In 2024, Snoop Dogg petitioned to seal the 1993 murder charge case.
Additionally, Snoop Dogg has had other legal issues, including a 1990 conviction for felony possession of drugs and possession for sale, and a 1997 guilty plea to handgun possession which resulted in probation and community service.
