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Combs feels 'blessed' after not guilty verdict

Combs said he felt "blessed" because of the jury's verdict    WEB EXCLUSIVE Michael Okwu: Sean 'Puffy' Combs verdict

In this story: Night the shooting went down 'I feel like I just won the Super Bowl' Accusations in court Damage claims top $1 billion RELATED STORIES, SITES

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A jury found rap mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs not guilty of gun possession and bribery charges in connection with a 1999 shooting at a New York nightclub.

As Combs left the courthouse Friday he said he wanted to thank God, his mother, and his three great attorneys.

The entertainer also said he was grateful for all his fans and others around the world who sent him prayers and messages of support.

ALSO Greta Van Susteren on the "Puffy" Combs verdict  AUDIO Sean "Puffy" Combs: "I give all the glory to God" (449K/40 sec AIFF or WAV sound.)   Sean "Puffy" Combs: "I'm just really emotional. I feel blessed" (322K/30 sec AIFF or WAV sound.) CNN's Michael Okwu reports on reaction in the courtroom after the verdict was announced (157K/14 sec AIFF or WAV sound.)  VIDEO Sean 'Puffy' Combs and his lawyers speak on the not guilty verdict Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Michael Okwu on closing arguments in the Puffy Combs trial Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

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"I'm really emotional … I feel blessed," he said. "I want to go and be with my kids."

Combs, 31, had been charged with four counts of gun possession and one count of bribery, and could have faced 15 years in prison if convicted.

Combs' bodyguard, Anthony "Wolf" Jones, 34, was also acquitted on similar charges.

Co-defendant Jamaal "Shyne" Barrow was found guilty on assault and reckless endangerment and weapons charges, but acquitted of attempted murder.

The jury of seven men and five women reached their verdicts on the third day of deliberations.

After the verdict was read, Combs hugged his lawyers and his mother cried out "Thank you, Jesus!"

Night the shooting went down

The case centered on the shooting and wounding of three people in December 1999 at Club New York in Manhattan.

Combs was at the club with singer Jennifer Lopez, who was his girlfriend at the time, Jones, and Barrow, a Combs protégé.

Witnesses testified that Combs and Lopez were leaving the club when another patron threw money in his face. Prosecutors say Combs and Barrow pulled out handguns and opened fire in response to the insult. Combs was not charged with firing a weapon.

Barrow was arrested as he fled the club with a gun tucked in his waistband. His attorney said that Barrow did fire a gun in the club, but said he felt his life was in danger.

Combs, Lopez and Jones left the scene in Combs' Lincoln Navigator and were stopped by police several blocks away. Combs and his bodyguard were arrested. Lopez was not charged.

'I feel like I just won the Super Bowl'

Combs' attorney, Johnnie Cochran, said the pressure in the courtroom "was unbearable through all those verdicts to finally get to his 'not guilties.' "

He said their legal team has the right strategy and achieved a "great exhilarating victory for Sean Combs."

"I think we made some strong decisions. I think we made the right decision not calling Jennifer. It was on Sean's back, he did the right thing, he testified, he went through the cross-examination and he prevailed," said Cochran.

Co-counsel Ben Brafman compared himself to the football player who won the Super Bowl and then announced he was going to Disneyland.

Brafman, left, and Cochran were pleased with the victory

"I feel like I just won the Super Bowl and this quarterback is going right to synagogue to thank God," said Brafman.

A lawyer for Jones said his client professed his innocence all along.

"The jury did the absolute right thing," said attorney Michael Bachner. "Tony is happy for himself but he is upset for Jamaal, he doesn't agree with the verdict for Jamaal."

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos left the courthouse without commenting on the verdict.

Accusations in court

Prosecutors had alleged that Combs tossed one of the guns out of his Lincoln Navigator during a police chase after the shooting.

In his closing arguments, which lasted almost six hours, Bogdanos said the gun was almost identical to another weapon that was found under a seat in Combs' Navigator.

They said Combs later offered his driver, Wardel Fenderson, $50,000 to say that gun -- belonging to Combs and found under a seat in the Navigator -- belonged to him.

Fenderson testified that he told police the gun was his, but that he changed his mind after talking to his attorney.

Combs' attorneys said the gun found on the street had nothing to do with Combs, and they denied that Combs tried to bribe Fenderson.

Combs also denied having a gun with him or firing a gun inside the nightclub that night. Combs testified he did not have a gun at the nightclub and did not know anything about the gun found in the Navigator.

His attorney said that Fenderson changed his story to avoid getting in trouble.

Prosecutors said five different witnesses saw Combs with a gun on the night of the shooting, including two of the victims.

Damage claims top $1 billion

In closing arguments Monday, the defense argued that Combs was the victim of people seeking to profit from his fame and fortune.

Several separate lawsuits have been filed against Combs in connection with the lawsuit, with damage claims topping $1 billion.

All three of the wounded have filed multimillion dollar lawsuits. Natanya Reubens, 30, was hit in the face, and still has seven bullet fragments lodged in her head. Robert Thompson, 39, and Julius Jones, 27, were each shot in the right shoulder.

Combs has built a rap music business empire. His record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, brings in between $40 million and $60 million a year and his Sean John clothing line brings in about $100 million. Combs also owns two restaurants and is considering branching out into movies.

CNN Entertainment Correspondent Michael Okwu, CNNfn Correspondent Susan Lisovicz and Reuters contributed to this report.

Witness says he saw Combs fire gun in club
March 7, 2001
Witness for Puffy's co-defendant says he saw gun, can't ID holder
March 2, 2001
Defense rests in Puffy Combs trial
March 1, 2001
Prosecutor says Puffy violated gag order
February 28, 2001
Defense witnesses say they did not see Combs with gun
February 22, 2001
Driver testifies he saw Puffy with gun
February 15, 2001
Driver says Puffy could not open secret safe
February 14, 2001
Prosecution witness says gun was found in Combs' vehicle
February 8, 2001

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