Leah LaBelle & Rasual Butler Die in Car Crash

Singer Leah LaBelle and husband Rasual Butler, a former NBA player, died in a single car collision in Studio City, Calif. on Wednesday (Jan. 31).

Butler was reportedly driving the vehicle, before losing control at approximately 2 a.m. Their Range Rover hit a parking meter and a wall before flipping over. Law enforcement officials believe he was speeding before the crash, according to TMZ.

LaBelle is best known as a contestant on the third season of “American Idol,” which took place in 2004. After rave reviews from Paula Abdul and a 12th place finish, she went on to sign a joint deal with Epic Records, Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def, and Pharrell Williams’ I Am Other. She was 31.

Butler was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2002 and played in the NBA until 2016 under a variety of teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs. Most recently, he was part of Ice Cube’s BIG3 league. He was 38.

Friends took to social media to mourn the devastating loss, including Karrueche Tran, LaBelle’s fellow Season 3 “Idol” contestant Fantasia, and JoJo, who penned a heartfelt note to her close friend. “Leah, you are my sister. I love you,” she wrote. “and I feel so fortunate that you were in my life. Sing with the angels in heaven. You were an angel on earth.”

RIP RASUAL AND LEAH OMGGGG THIS IS SO SADD!!!!!!!

— Karrueche Tran (@karrueche) January 31, 2018

That SMILE. That VOICE. That inside-out GLOW. My @leahlabelle . My sister. Woke up this morning and heard you were gone. This can’t be real. I just replayed the voice note you sent me on my birthday. Please someone assure me this is not real. And that we are still gonna meet up and sing and harmonize and encourage each other and laugh out asses off real soon. LEAH You have the light of GOD inside you. Everyone you touched was blessed by your presence. PURE. You were GENUINE. The REAL THING. Can’t believe I’m writing about you in the past tense!!!!! And you and @rasualbutler8 ‘s relationship was SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LOVE TO WITNESS AND FEEL. Best friends, believers, partners. A love that survived so much. We want and need more from you both. I cannot accept that the two of you are gone. Leah, you are my sister. I love you. and I feel so fortunate that you were in my life. Sing with the angels in heaven. You were an angel on earth.

A post shared by JoJo. (@iamjojo) on Jan 31, 2018 at 11:45am PST

This just doesn’t seem right even saying right now but Rest In Peace Baby Girl @leahlabelle I will never forget you. Idol Family Forever

A post shared by Fantasia Taylor (@tasiasword) on Jan 31, 2018 at 11:51am PST

Butler’s former teammate Paul Pierce added: “So sad this morning to [hear] about my friend and teammate RIP Rasual Butler appreciate the people around u because u never kno.”

Butler’s former teams have also issued statements. “Our entire organization is deeply saddened after learning of the death of former Pacers player Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle,” wrote the Indiana team. Miami added: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle. Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and many friends of Rasual and Leah. They will be missed.”

So sad this morning to here about my friend and teammate RIP Rasual Butler appreciate the people around u because u never kno

— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) January 31, 2018

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle. Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and many friends of Rasual and Leah. They will be missed. pic.twitter.com/djezmpHd5h

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 31, 2018

Our entire organization is deeply saddened after learning of the death of former Pacers player Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle. pic.twitter.com/ezdVkM12PG

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 31, 2018

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