CHICAGO, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A relative and a family friend of the late gospel singer Albertina Walker were arrested after an altercation before a Chicago tribute concert, police said.
Gerald Walker, her nephew, and Carl Jackson, a friend, were arrested and each charged with a single count of battery in an incident at the Apostolic Church of God, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
It happened Thursday ahead of a tribute concert for Walker, the legendary Grammy-winning singer who died Oct. 8, witnesses said.
The alleged victim was Walker's former manager and agent Eric Peterson, who went on stage before the concert got under way. Police said when he didn't leave the stage as requested, he was "battered" by Walker and Jackson.
"The two individuals ordered the victim to get off the stage. When he did not exit the stage, they physically went ahead and battered this individual," police spokesman John Mirabelli said in the newspaper Saturday. "One of them grabbed him and the other one punched him."
Walker's goddaughter, Tina Nance, said she doesn't want the incident to detract from the singer's reputation and legacy.
"It was unfortunate what happened, but I don't want it to detract from the celebration of my godmother's legacy and her memory," Nance said.
Peterson was not seriously injured and attended Walker's funeral the next day, the report said.
