Photo by FreddyO

The Atlanta music scene is reeling over the senseless death of Ashley Jewell. Jewell, known affectionately as “AJ” was involved in a brawl with several men in the parking lot of the “Body Tap” strip club where he was co-owner. He was transported to Piedmont hospital where he subsequently died from severe head injuries.

AJ had received a ton of flack recently after appearing alongside his ex-fiance Kandi Burruss on the 2nd season of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta. When it was revealed on the show that he had 6 kids from 4 other women, he wasinstantly labeled a deadbeat dead by online blogs and websites but nothing was farther from the truth. The harsh criticism received during the airing of the show prompted the couple to take an indefinite “hiatus” although Kandi remained active in AJ’s children’s lives. She even gained custody of 2 of his daughters after the break up.

Kandi is understandably devastated after losing both her favorite uncle and the love of her life within days of each other. She hit up twitter page briefly this morning to thank everyone for their supportive words:

im bout 2 giv my swollen eyes sum rest now. i just wanted to say thanks 2 every1 for their prayers. i gotta get up & go 2 my uncle’s funeral.

I could never n a million years imagine this happening. please pray for AJ’s children. that’s who im the most concerned 4.

im just in one of those moods where i dont wanna talk, i dont wanna b held & told its gonna b ok. i just wanna cry myself 2 sleep, alone.

Questioning of party-goers at the club yielded no definite answers to the beating and the investigation is continuing.  My prayers go out to AJ’s children and family members.

*Update 10/03/09 1:23pm *  ~ Arrest Made in Death of AJ Jewell:

Atlanta homicide detectives have arrested Fredrick Richardson and charged him with voluntary manslaughter in the beating death of Ashley “AJ” Jewell.

Ashley “A.J.” Jewell, who was engaged to Kandi Burruss until last August, died of massive head injuries he suffered in a “one-on-one” fight in the parking lot of an Atlanta strip bar, the Body Tap Club in the 1200 block of Marietta Boulevard.

Richardson was also hospitalized due to injuries sustained in the fight and is at Grady Memorial Hospital, but will be jailed once released by medical staff. (Source)