Lawsuit: Brawl at MSG involving rapper Lil Tjay left NYPD cop, a Staten Islander, seriously hurt

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An NYPD officer from Staten Island is suing Madison Square Garden, rapper Lil Tjay, and a promoter in connection with an alleged melee in the stands last year during a slate of boxing matches at the venue.

The plaintiff, John Przybyszewski of Staten Island, was working a paid detail when he was “permanently injured” as a result of the incident, his attorney writes in court documents.

The incident reportedly unfolded in the stands of MSG’s Hulu Theater on the evening of Feb. 14, 2025. The main event was a light heavyweight bout between Keyshawn Davis and Denys Berinchyk.

As the fights played out in the ring, MSG staff and paid detail responded to a disturbance reported in the stands involving Lil Tjay, who was attending the event with friends and bodyguards, according to the plaintiff.

The Bronx-born rapper — identified in court documents as Tione Jayden Merritt — became “volatile and combative” with staff and “other guests,” the lawsuit alleges.

Przybyszewski — who was one of two NYPD paid detail security officers that night — was instructed by MSG staff to remove Merritt, according to the lawsuit.

He approached the defendant and “calmly” delivered the message, his court filings state.

Merritt became angry and pushed Przybyszewski, who was knocked to the ground by others as multiple people fell on top of him, the lawsuit alleges.

Przybyszewski was rushed to NYU Tisch Hospital, where he was told by doctors he suffered cervical spinal injuries, the complaint continues.

Cop assaulted, staff spat on: Lawsuit

In a video posted on social media, Merritt is seen being approached by a MSG staff member at his seat as the two men lock arms. A larger man who was with Merritt steps in.

Merritt also spat in the face of an employee, the lawsuit alleges.

The video cuts off as Merritt is being forced from his seat.

Merritt, who is accused of assault and battery in the lawsuit, did not have an attorney listed in court documents as of Tuesday. An attorney from one of the rapper’s prior arrests told the Advance/SILive.com they were unaware of the latest incident.

It wasn’t Merritt’s first interaction with police.

In 2023, he was cuffed on weapons charges in his home borough. A year earlier, he was shot multiple times in New Jersey, the New York Post reported.

‘Negligence’ led to ‘permanent’ injuries, suit claims

The plaintiff’s injuries, according to the lawsuit, have proven serious, life changing and “permanent.”

In an interview with the New York Post, Przybyszewski said he suffers from daily chronic neck and back pain.

“I may never know how far my career could have gone, or what my full potential truly was,” said Przybyszewski, who joined the force in 2018.

The civil complaint goes on to accuse the promoter, Top Rank, and MSG of negligence that resulted in the incident.

“In advance of the event, the defendants determined that eight paid detail officers were necessary to safely staff the premises,” the complaint reads. “Despite that determination, only two officers were actually present and assigned to the venue.”

The lawsuit goes on to claim the defendants “knowingly operated a crowded, high-energy sporting event with 75% less security than they themselves deemed necessary.”

The “reckless” actions ultimately “jeopardized (the plaintiff’s) career and permanently altered his life,” the filing alleges.

100 security personnel: MSG

One day after the lawsuit was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, a spokesperson for MSG said they were looking into it.

They did note, however, that there were at least 100 security personnel, including paid detail, staffed at the theater that night.