Grammy Award nominee and world-famous baritone Jubilant Sykes was stabbed to death at his home in California. The artist’s son was detained on charges of murder, according to the ABC news portal.
Police officers arrived at the house after a 911 call reporting the attack, and Sykes was found with “severe injuries consistent with a stab wound.” The singer’s wife called the rescue service. Santa Monica Fire Department officials pronounced Sykes dead at the scene. The murder weapon was also found there.
“The circumstances of the incident remain the subject of investigation,” the police said in a statement.
The police also noted that Sykes’ son, 31-year-old Mika Sykes, was found in the house and detained without incident. He will be charged with murder.
According to Santa Monica Police Lieutenant Lewis Gilmore, the 71-year-old singer’s son had a history of mental illness, although it remains unclear what led to the incident.
“According to preliminary data, this is a family tragedy that occurred in the house. An isolated incident that does not pose a threat to society,” he said.
Sykes was born in Los Angeles. During his career, he has performed at major concert venues, including the Berlin Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, London’s Barbican Center, and many others.
In 2009, he participated in the recording of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass (1918-1990) with the Morgan University Choir and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Album category.