Legendary rock guitarist Jake E. Lee, best known for his blistering solos on Ozzy Osbourne’s classic albums Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin, survived a harrowing ambush last year that authorities initially deemed “completely random.” New details from Lee’s own accounts and police evidence paint a far more deliberate picture: the shooter emptied an entire magazine, firing 15 rounds in a brazen attack that left the musician with life-threatening injuries.
The incident occurred in the early hours of October 15, 2024, near Lee’s Las Vegas home, about 10 miles from the famed Strip. While walking his pit bull Coco, Lee encountered two masked individuals dressed in dark clothing, apparently attempting to steal a neighbor’s motorcycle. What followed was a tense verbal confrontation.
“We were about 50 feet apart when I heard the shots,” Lee recounted in a recent interview. After a “macho back and forth,” the men appeared to retreat, but one turned and unleashed a barrage from afar. Police recovered 15 shell casings at the scene, indicating the assailant fired every round in the magazine – a detail Lee himself highlighted, stating the shooter “emptied his clip on me.
Lee, then 67, was struck three times: once through the forearm, once in the foot, and once in the back, shattering a rib and collapsing a lung. Miraculously, he dodged the rest while running for cover, crediting his survival to quick thinking and luck. “I could only dodge so many,” he later posted on social media. His dog Coco emerged unharmed.
Initial reports from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police described the shooting as random, with no arrests at the time.851c8c However, Lee pushed back, clarifying the thieves’ involvement and the premeditated nature of the attack. In a November 2024 Facebook update, he detailed crossing paths with the suspects, who were “dressed darkly, hoodies pulled down their faces and masks covering their mouths.
Justice moved swiftly. Suspects were apprehended just two weeks later, thanks in part to national media attention pressuring local authorities. The firearm was linked to two prior murders, elevating the case and ensuring lengthy sentences. Sentencing is reportedly scheduled for next month.
Reflecting on the ordeal over a year later in a November 2025 podcast appearance, the now-68-year-old Lee called it “unlucky” to get shot but “lucky” in every other way – no vital organs hit, rapid medical response, and perpetrators caught. “The gun was tied to two previous murders so my case is almost an afterthought. They’re going bye bye for a long time,” he said.
Ozzy Osbourne, who hadn’t spoken to Lee in 37 years, expressed shock, calling it “another senseless act of gun violence. Fans worldwide rallied, relieved at Lee’s full recovery and return to music.
The discovery of 15 shell casings underscores the attack’s intensity, transforming the narrative from a stray street incident to a calculated attempt on the rock icon’s life. As Lee continues healing, the case serves as a stark reminder of urban dangers – even for legends.
