Justin Bieber Offers Prayers For Paparazzo Killed Photographing His Ferrari

Bieber sends his 'thoughts and prayers' to the family of photographer who was a killed on Tuesday trying to snap the singer's car.

After a paparazzi photographer was run over and killed on New Year's day trying to photograph Justin Bieber's Ferrari, the singer issued a statement offering condolences to the shooter's family and calling for legislation to ensure the safety of celebrities.

"While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim," said Bieber in statement. According to CNN, the unnamed photographer allegedly thought he saw Bieber sitting in the white Ferrari and was struck by oncoming traffic as he walked across a Los Angeles freeway to get back to his car after snapping photos of the car.

Bieber was not in the car on Tuesday evening when police pulled it over on an off-ramp of Interstate 405. Officers asked the paparazzo to go back to his car twice during the stop and he was reportedly run down while crossing the street to return to his vehicle.

"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 added in his statement.

The 18-year-old star has a history with the paparazzi, including an incident in July
 when a pack of shooters chased Bieber down a Los Angeles freeway in a high-speed chase that blew by Los Angeles city councilman Dennis Zine. The LAPD reservist and politician used that incident as an example of what he called the "tragedy waiting to happen." Zine has sponsored legislation that would impose tougher punishment on photographers who break the law while pursuing celebrities.