Grammy-nominated opera singer Jubilant Sykes has been found stabbed to death at his home in Santa Monica, California, with police arresting his son as the main suspect. He was 71.
In a statement, the Santa Monica Police Department said officers responded to a 911 call on Monday reporting an “assault in progress” at a residence in the coastal city. When police arrived and entered the home, they discovered Sykes suffering from severe injuries consistent with a stabbing.
Emergency responders from the Santa Monica Fire Department pronounced the acclaimed singer dead at the scene.
Police confirmed that Sykes’ 31-year-old son, Micah Sykes, was found inside the residence and taken into custody without resistance. Authorities secured the scene, obtained a search warrant and recovered the suspected weapon from inside the home.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation,” police said.
Micah Sykes has since been booked on suspicion of homicide, and the case will be reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether formal charges will be filed.
U.S. media reports indicate that Micah had a history of mental health struggles. According to court documents cited by Rolling Stone, a woman in Southern California sought a restraining order against him in 2017, alleging unpredictable behavior and violence toward family members. The filings also stated that he had previously been placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold following an attempted break-in.
Jubilant Sykes was widely respected for his powerful voice and contributions to classical and gospel music, earning a Grammy nomination during his career. He often spoke publicly about social justice issues and shared moments from his family life on social media.
In a 2020 post, Sykes reflected emotionally on raising his three sons and the challenges they faced as Black men in America, including encounters with racial profiling. He wrote about feeling both grateful for his family and deeply shaken by their shared experiences with law enforcement despite being innocent of any wrongdoing.
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