May 30, 2008 17:57

50 Cent's home destroyed in suspicious fire

The mansion was at the centre of legal dispute

50 Cent's multimillion dollar mansion was destroyed in a suspicious fire this morning (May 30).

The home on Long Island, New York was at the centre of a legal dispute between 50 Cent and his ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins, which became increasingly heated just a few days ago.

Six people inside the Dix Hills home were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation treatment and then released, including the former girlfriend and a boy fathered by the rapper, reports the Associated Press.

Dix Hills Fire Chief Larry Feld said that the blaze -- which was reported around 5 am and put out 45 minutes later -- seemed suspicious. It is being labeled arson due to its intensity.

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, does not live at the home. He and Tompkins have been involved in a legal dispute over the Grammy-nominated rapper's assets, including the home, for several months.

The fire reportedly occurred just a few days after a confrontational meeting at Tompskin's attorney's office.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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