David Thornton bails out Cyndi Lauper’s son after gun charges
Published on Feb. 9, 2024, 6:20 p.m. ET
By Kyle Schnitzer
Cyndi Lauper’s troubled son, Declan “Dex” Lauper, narrowly escaped Rikers Island after being allegedly caught with a gun. His actor father, David Thornton, swiftly paid a $20,000 bail in cash, sparing Declan from spending the weekend behind bars.
Declan Lauper, a 28-year-old rapper, stood accused of gun possession charges following a shooting incident in Harlem on Wednesday night. According to prosecutors, Declan and another individual were traveling in an Uber from Queens to 135th West 112th St. At some point during the journey, the Uber driver allegedly overheard them mentioning a sale. Prosecutors claim the Uber then came under attack, with five armed individuals surrounding the rapper’s car and one shot being fired, injuring Declan’s partner in the leg.
Upon the police’s arrival, Declan, seen wearing a black fanny pack, allegedly asked the officers to retrieve a blue bag from the car so the companion’s mother could pick it up at a smoke shop. However, a black fanny pack tied with the rapper’s shoe revealed his involvement in the crime when police noticed bloodstains on it. An ensuing search led to the discovery of a gun inside the fanny pack.
David Thornton, known for his roles in “Law & Order” and “The Notebook,” attended the court hearing and promptly paid the bail in cash, effectively securing his son’s release. Stack of $100 bills, neatly organized and delivered in a white envelope, mesmerized the onlookers. The judge eventually set bail at $20,000, fearing the potential harm of Declan being armed at the smoke shop. Notably, Cyndi Lauper, the mother, was not present at the court appearance.
During the hearing, Declan’s attorney, Steven Brill, argued for bail to be waived altogether, emphasizing that Declan was more of a victim than a perpetrator and was simply at the wrong place, wrong time. Brill’s statements centered on the young rapper’s engagement with a private life coach as an additional layer of supervision to guide him in the right direction.
Declan Lauper had previously faced legal trouble in 2022, wherein he received a plea deal and avoided jail time for stealing a Mercedes outside another rapper’s memorial. The court had mandated community service and a year of good behavior as part of the deal, aiming to keep the rapper on the right path.
As soon as he was released, an elated Declan took to the streets, exclaiming, “Positive energy equals positive results! The King of New York is on bail!” Meanwhile, David Thornton chose not to comment publicly on his son’s alleged conduct.
Declan Lauper is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 13.
