Just hours after a physical altercation took place at the home of Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine, a lawyer for the 82-year-old matriarch has provided E! News with her version of the incident and the possible reason behind it.
Fight Reported at Jackson House
"Yesterday afternoon certain Jackson family members ambushed Katherine Jackson's home after their vehicle tore security gates on the tails of the SUV containing Michael Jackson's children," says Katherine's attorney, Sandra Ribera.
"After exiting their vehicles, Jackson family members ran up to Michael's children as they yelled and began to aggressively grab at the cell phones in their hands. Out of concern for the well being of Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson, the children were forced to temporarily leave their home and taken to a safe location. An altercation ensued shortly thereafter and law enforcement arrived at the scene."
Katherine Jackson Located, Is Safe With Family
Photos from the scene show Michael's siblings Janet and Jermaine present, while several reports say the third member involved was Randy Jackson. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department confirmed to E! News that its deputies were called to the Encino, Calif., enclave about 1:30 p.m. Monday to investigate a possible battery, but spokesman Steve Whitmore declined to name names.
The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed.
Says Ribera: "Following the incident, it was learned that one of the family members who was part of the ambush admitted that a plan has been in place for the last three years to remove Katherine Jackson from her home and her beloved grandchildren.
"Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson have not heard from their grandmother since she left their home nine days ago to attend a series of her sons' concerts on their Unity Tour. She never made the shows. Despite efforts to interview Katherine Jackson at her current location in Arizona yesterday, Los Angeles County Sheriff's [Department] confirmed that they were denied access to Mrs. Jackson by security for one of her children."
Katherine Jackson's Disappearance/Reappearance—What's at Stake?
There was no immediate comment from any of Michael's siblings; however, both Janet and Jermaine especially have been outspoken about family dynamics.
Last week, they banded together with fellow siblings to challenge the validity of Michael's will (which left everything to his children under the care of Katherine and completely excluded his brothers and sisters) in an attempt to oust the current executors of Michael's estate. Janet has also questioned whether 14-year-old Paris should be allowed to pursue an acting career at such a young age, while Jermaine has insisted that nothing is wrong and Katherine was merely spending time away from Michael's children to be with Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon on the road. The surviving Jackson 5 members even released a family photo of a rousing Uno game, taken in Arizona, featuring a smiling Katherine.
Meanwhile, soon after Monday's drama unfolded, Paris tweeted, "Gotta love fam."
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