Justin Bieber sends thoughts and prayers to family of paparazzo killed taking pictures of his Ferrari

Pop star Justin Bieber sent his condolences to the family of the photographer who tried to take pictures of his Ferrari on New Year’s Day in Los Angeles. The unidentified photographer died when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle.

As we previously reported, the paparazzo was following the Ferrari, when it was stopped by police for a routine traffic stop on Sepulveda Blvd. around 6 p.m. The “Boyfriend” singer was not in the car, which his friends had been using that night.

The photographer got out of his car to get a closer look and officers told him that it was unsafe. Still, he moved forward and was struck by a vehicle and pronounced dead at UCLA Medical Center.

According to MTV News, Bieber sent a statement out, offering his condolences to the family of the photographer.

“While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim,” the singer wrote. He added, “Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves.”

Bieber has had several incidents in the past with the paparazzi, who try to get whatever images they can of the pop star. In July, he was chased by photographers in different cars with Los Angeles city councilman Dennis Zine as an eyewitness. At the time, Zine said it was a “tragedy waiting to happen” and he has supported legislations to punish photographers for endangering the public. According to CNN, one of the photographers did receive criminal charges in that incident.