Photo Credit: Jubilant Sykes (Instagram)
Opera and gospel singer Jubilant Sykes was stabbed to death in his Santa Monica home on Monday, allegedly by his son, who is in police custody.
Classical, opera, and gospel singer Jubilant Sykes was stabbed to death on Monday in his Santa Monica home, allegedly by his son, who is in custody, police told KTLA. He was 71.
Officers were called to Sykes’ home at approximately 9 PM after someone inside dialed 911 to report an assault in progress, according to police. The caller was later revealed to be Sykes’ wife. Sykes, who was not publicly identified as the victim until Tuesday, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Officers arrived and contacted the reporting party, who directed them into the home where they located an adult male with significant injuries,” police said. “The suspect, the victim’s son, Micah Sykes, 31, was found inside the residence and taken into custody without incident.”
Police added that he will be booked on suspicion of homicide. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for consideration. Authorities also revealed that evidence from the scene is currently being processed, and a weapon was recovered.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives believe this was an isolated incident contained within the household,” said Lt. Lewis Gilmour of the Santa Monica Police Department, who added that the investigation remains active.
A Los Angeles native, Sykes began singing soprano as a child, but said he had no dreams of becoming an opera singer and was encouraged by his teachers at Cal State Fullerton.
He has performed at such iconic venues as the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, London’s Barbican Centre, the Apollo Theater, the Hollywood Bowl, New Orleans Jazz Festival, and many more. He also earned a Grammy nomination for his role as the Celebrant in the 2009 recording of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass.
Sammy Murphy, a friend and neighbor of Sykes’, described him as a “good-hearted person” with a “beautiful family.” Murphy said Sykes had three sons, describing one of them as a “bad man.”
