shooting

12 May 2023

18-Year-Old Man Admits to Fatally Shooting Pop Smoke

An 18-year-old man who was charged in the 2020 fatal shooting of rising Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke admitted to killing him during a home-invasion robbery at a Hollywood Hills home in juvenile court Friday (May 12), according to City News Service.

The man, who was 15 at the time of the crime, admitted to a first-degree murder charge stemming from the Feb. 19, 2020, killing of Pop Smoke (real name Bashar Barakah Jackson). He also admitted to a home-invasion robbery charge as well as an allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm during the crime.

He is expected to be held in a state juvenile facility until he turns 25.

City News Service reported that during the hearing, L.A. County Superior Court Judge J. Christopher Smith told the 18-year-old man and his 19-year-old co-defendant, the latter of whom admitted to a juvenile court petition charging him with home-invasion robbery, “That man lost his life over no good reason. … You have no right to take somebody’s life. You have no right to take somebody’s property.”

The 19-year-old man and a third, 20-year-old man, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and another count of home-invasion robbery during an April 6, 2023-dated hearing, could both remain in juvenile custody until they turn 25. The names of all three men are not being publicly released because of their ages at the time of the crime.

Only one of the four men who were charged in the killing of Pop Smoke, Corey Walker, is being charged in adult court because he was 19 at the time of the crime and is now 22. City News Service reports he is awaiting a pretrial hearing scheduled for June 16 in L.A. on murder, robbery and burglary charges.

27 Mar 2023

Nashville Artists Speak Out After Local School Shooting: ‘Praying for These Babies & Their Families’

Several Nashville musicians have spoken out after six people, including three students and three adult staff members, were killed during a school shooting on Monday (March 27) at The Covenant School in Nashville.

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A 28-year-old suspect was killed during an altercation with police. The Metro Nashville PD’s official Twitter account revealed that the six victims fatally shot by the active shooter at Covenant School were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all age 9; Cynthia Peak, age 61; Katherine Koonce, age 60; and Mike Hill, age 61. Koonce is listed as the head of School on The Covenant School’s official website.

Nashville musicians spoke out in grief and anger. Singer-songwriter-musician Charlie Worsham wrote via his Instagram Stories, “It seems impossible to find fitting words to say about the shooting in Nashville today. I’m heartbroken and enraged that we can’t seem to provide the simplest, most common-sense safeguards for our own children. If this was something other than a gun problem, it’d be happening all over the world. But it only seems to happen here.”

Kelsea Ballerini, who has previously spoken with Billboard about her own experience surviving a school shooting when she was a high school sophomore, shared via Instagram Stories, “i’m heartbroken i’m triggered i’m angry and i’m terrified for the loss we continue to have in this country due to guns. three f**king kids. what are we doing.”

Contemporary Christian singer Natalie Grant shared a news story about the incident via her Instagram Stories, adding, “I posted this earlier and then deleted it because I had been told people were only injured. I’m so heartbroken and devastated to realize not only was the original report true, but that more are dead, including three children. Several injured. This story is tragically repeated over and over and over again. Only today it hits very close to home. Jesus be near.”

Via Instagram Stories, Maren Morris shared a tweet from the Nashville Fire Department that shared details of the incident, simply commenting, “Oh my god,” accompanied by a broken-heart emoji.

Several artists, including Jason Isbell and Sheryl Crow, addressed Tennessee officials, with Isbell quote-tweeting Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, after Lee tweeted that he is “closely monitoring the tragic situation at Covenant.” Isbell responded, “Is this what we want? Monitoring the ‘tragic situation’ and asking for prayers? Something can be done Bill you just don’t have the spine for it. This must be what you want, because you haven’t done anything to prevent it.”

After Senator Marsha Blackburn sent out a tweet saying that her office was “ready to assist” federal, state and local officials, Crow responded, “If you are ready to assist, please pass sensible gun laws so that the children of Tennessee and America at large might attend school without risk of being gunned down.”

Rosanne Cash also responded to Blackburn’s tweet, saying, “Don’t even. You vote against every common sense gun control bill that comes across your desk, you’ve taken over $1 million from the NRA, and you rank 14th in all Congress for NRA contributions. Spare us the handwringing @marshablackburn”

Shortly after news of the school shooting broke, Margo Price addressed Lee, saying, “4 dead so far in an elementary school shooting in Nashville this am. Can I ask you, @GovBillLee why you passed permit less [sic] carry in 2021? Our children are dying and being shot in school but you’re more worried about drag queens than smart gun laws? You have blood on your hands.”

See several of the responses from Nashville music artists below:

10 Mar 2023

Shawn Kemp Released From Jail, Lawyer Says Shooting Was Self-Defense

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Shawn Kemp made headlines this week after he was arrested in connection to what was widely reported as a drive-by shooting, prompting many to scratch their heads. According to the retired NBA great’s legal team, Kemp fired his weapon in self-defense and new details are currently emerging.

Shawn Kemp, 53, was arrested near the Tacoma Mall in Tacoma, Wash. on Wednesday (March 8) after reports went wide that two vehicles exchanged gunfire. Details were scant at the time but now more information has come out regarding the shooting incident.

The Associated Press writes that Kemp was released from jail Thursday afternoon without facing charges and the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office says it won’t be bringing any forward.

“We’re grateful they didn’t rush to judgment,” said Seattle criminal defense lawyer Tim Leary, who is representing Kemp, according to the outlet.

W. Scott Boatman, in a separate written statement, added that Kemp’s car was broken into on Tuesday of this week, and among the items stolen was an iPhone that Kemp tracked by location to a car parked near the Tacoma Mall. Kemp approached the car and was met with gunshots then returned fire.

“There was not a drive by shooting as previously reported and Mr. Kemp’s actions were reasonable and legally justified,” Boatman wrote in his note to ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski. “Mr. Kemp met with law enforcement at the scene in an attempt to assist in the matter. Mr. Kemp has retained criminal attorneys Aaron Kiviat and Tim Leary to represent him and ensure that he is exonerated of all charges.”

Curiously enough, many online are pointing out how the moment became jokes and meme fodder on social media but Kemp has more than enough support as many saw a rush to judgment after news of the arrest went wide.

Shawn Kemp has yet to make any public statements about the incident.

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08 Mar 2023

Reign Man: Shawn Kemp Arrested For Alleged Drive-By Shooting Incident

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Shawn Kemp, one of the NBA’s original high-flying power players, was arrested Wednesday (March 8) according to reports from police in Tacoma, Wash. The former Seattle Supersonics star was booked today on charges in connection to an alleged drive-by shooting and details are still developing.

Shawn Kemp, 53, was arrested in Pierce County according to a report from The Seattle Times at around 6 p.m. local time. According to the publication’s report, there was an altercation between individuals in a pair of cars that resulted erupted into gunfire near Tacoma Mall according to the Tacoma Police Department.

One of the cars vacated the scene and a firearm was found near the site of the shooting then police proceeded to arrest Kemp. In a report from local outlet Fox 13, it was shared that no individuals were harmed in the shooting. The outlet also added that Kemp is the owner of two cannabis shops in the region.

As details develop, we’ll return to add more to this report. For now, check out the reactions from Twitter to Shawn Kemp getting arrested for his alleged role in a drive-by shooting.

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Photo: Getty

22 Feb 2023

Alabama Player Brandon Miller Gave Darius Miles Gun Used In Killing Of Jamea Harris

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Brandon Miller, a standout player with the University of Alabama men’s basketball team, gave former teammate Darius Miles the handgun used in the fatal shooting of Jamea Harris. Despite Miller’s involvement in the capital murder case, he will not face charges in the matter.

AL. com reports in detail that Brandon Miller, a freshman forward for the Crimson Tide, provided the gun to Miles and Michael Davis that was used on the Tuscaloosa strip in the killing of Harris, who was 23.

According to testimony given by a detective working on the case, Miles contacted Miller to bring his gun to the location and Miles then informed Davis that the gun was loaded and had a bullet in the chamber. Miles then reportedly removed his girlfriend out of the way of gunfire as Davis reportedly pulled the trigger. Miller was also at the scene of the shooting along with another Crimson Tide player, Jaden Bradley.

The testimony came during a preliminary hearing for Miles and Davis who are both facing charges in the Jan. 15 killing. The pair are longtime friends who grew up in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In the hearing, the pair claimed they were acting in self-defense and their legal team requested that they be set free to go on bond.

Alabama Coach Nate Oats spoke about the case and says that Miller is not in any trouble with the team.

“We knew about that. Can’t control everything everybody does outside of practice. Nobody knew that was going to happen. College kids are out, Brandon hasn’t been in any type of trouble nor is he in any type of trouble in this case. Wrong spot at the wrong time,” Oats said.

Miller, who hails from Tennessee, is seen by some analysts to be selected among the top five pics in this coming NBA draft.

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Photo: Brandon Sumrall / Getty

14 Feb 2023

Michigan State University Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 5 Injured

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Multiple People Reportedly Shot At Michigan State University

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A shooting incident broke out at Michigan State University on Monday (Feb. 13) that left three students dead and five others critically injured. Local police say they located the gunman at a separate location where he died of a self-inflicted gun wound.

Local outlet Click On Detroit was among many outlets that covered the Michigan State University shooting, which took place at 8:18 PM local time inside Berkey Hall, an academic building on the MSU campus grounds. Two students were shot dead inside Berkey Hall along with others being injured. Later, the gunman opened fire at the MSU Union building, leaving another student dead and injuring more.

Details surrounding the shooting are scant at best but naturally, the news of the violent act once again drummed up the ongoing debate of gun control in the nation and with so many unanswered questions about the gunman’s motives, tensions are high as police continue to investigate the matter.

The gunman was identified as 43-year-old Anthony McCrae. As reported by Click On Detroit, McCrae had a criminal record in the city of Lansing, Mich. The 2019 charge was over a concealed weapon and McCrae completed probation in 2021.

As this story develops, we’ll return to add details as they become known to the public.

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Photo: Getty

18 Jan 2023

University Of Alabama Darius Miles Charged With Providing Man With Gun Used In Fatal Shooting

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Darius Miles, a player for the University of Alabama’s men’s basketball team, has been charged with capital murder after investigators uncovered details of a fatal shooting that occurred over the weekend. According to police reports and reporting from news outlets, Miles provided the gun used in the shooting to another man.

Darius Miles, 21, was a junior for the Crimson Tide and hails from Washington, D.C. As reported by ESPN, Miles and Michael Lynn Davis, 20, were both charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Jamea Harris, who was 23. The crime took place at a popular area near Alabama’s Tuscaloosa campus grounds known as the Strip.

Both Miles and Davis are both currently in the Tuscaloosa County jail and may remind there up to two months before a hearing could take place according to Tuscaloosa police Capt. Jack Kennedy.

Officials from Alabama issued a statement to the public stating that Miles was removed from the team and they last played Tuesday (Jan. 17) against Vanderbilt, winning the contest 78-66. Vanderbilt coach and former NBA star Jerry Stackhouse spoke about the difficulty Alabama faces currently and tried to rally his players together to play the game ahead of the contest.

A statement from Miles’ legal team professed the former player’s innocence.

“While Darius has been accused of being involved with this tragedy, he maintains his innocence and looks forward to his day in court,” Miles legal team, William White, Clayton Tartt, and Suzanne Norman from the Birmingham-based Boles Holmes White law firm, shared in the statement. “Our firm’s own investigation is ongoing, and no further statement will be made at this time.”

There is another former NBA star named Darius Miles, now the co-host of The Knuckleheads podcast, but there doesn’t appear any relation between the 41-year-old to the former Alabama player.

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Photo: Jonathan Bachman / Getty

11 Jan 2023

DC Middle School Student Karon Blake Mourned After Shooting Death

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Karon Blake, a 13-year-old middle school student in Washington, D.C., was shot and killed over the weekend for allegedly tampering with a vehicle. This week, the school community Blake attended is attempting to process the shocking moment with others calling for justice for the arrest of the person that carried out the shooting.

As reported by local outlet NBC 4 Washington, Karon Blake was a student at Brookland Middle School in Washington’s Northeast quadrant. According to a press release from Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting took place last Saturday (Jan. 7).

From the press release:

At approximately 3:56 am, members of the Fifth District responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, the members located a juvenile male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead.

Detectives’ investigation at the scene revealed that a male inside of a residence, at the listed location, heard noises and observed someone that appeared to be tampering with vehicles. The male resident went outside, armed with a registered firearm, to further investigate. There was an interaction between a juvenile male and the male resident. During the interaction, the male resident discharged his firearm striking the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

As NBC 4 notes, members of the Brookland Middle School community are speaking out and offering support to Blake’s peers who might be affected by news of his passing. In the broader community, some are asking that criminal charges are levied against the unnamed resident who shot the firearm that ended Blake’s life. That same call has been growing across social media as well but MPD officials have yet to announce new developments regarding the investigation.

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Photo: Getty

06 Jan 2023

French Montana Releases Statement After 10 People Were Shot During His Miami Video Shoot

French Montana released a statement Friday (Jan. 6) following reports that 10 people had been injured after gunfire erupted during his music video shoot.

“Last night, I was in Miami celebrating the release of my CB6 mixtape w/ friends at a local restaurant. We unfortunately were at the wrong place, at the wrong time when an incident took place that left people hurt,” Montana wrote on Twitter. “Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims & families at this time.”

According to WSVN 7, Miami Gardens Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to reports of a shooting outside The Licking, a restaurant in Miami Gardens, Fla., shortly before 8 p.m. ET on Thursday night. 7News reported that it remains unclear whether someone shot into the crowd or whether there was an exchange of gunfire. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported there were a total of 10 victims, four who brought themselves to the hospital and six who were transported,” as reported by NBC 6 South Florida.

Witnesses said the “Unforgettable” rapper was shooting a video at the time of the incident. One of them, local MC Ced Mogul, shared a video with NBC6 showing Montana dressed in a red shirt while sitting in the back of a car with New Orleans rapper Rob49 — whom Mogul claimed was among the victims but has yet to be confirmed by police — during the video shoot and before the shooting.

On Friday, Montana released Coke Boys 6: Money Heist Edition, the latest installment of his long-running Coke Boys mixtape series that features A$AP Rocky, Benny the Butcher, Kodak Black, Max B, King Combs, Est Gee, Jeremih and more. 

See his tweet below.

06 Jan 2023

French Montana Video Shoot In Miami Leaves Several Shot, Rapper Rob49 Among Victims

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French Montana just released the latest installment in his ongoing Coke Boys mixtape series, but other pressing matters are at hand after an incident on Thursday (Jan. 5). During a video shoot for the Morrocan-American rapper, gunfire erupted and left several people injured, including rising rapper Rob49.

Local outlet NBC 6 reports that the shooting took place in front of The Licking, a Florida soul food chain, at its Miami Gardens location last night. According to accounts from police, a total of 10 individuals were reportedly shot following an altercation that took place in another location before ending up in front of The Licking. Among that number was Rob49, who is featured on Coke Boys 6, the latest mixtape from French Montana and hosted by DJ Drama.

The outlet spoke to a local rapper, Ced Mogul, who said that someone was allegedly robbed behind a nearby KFC where part of the video shoot was taking place before moving over to The Licking.

French Montana was not among the injured but whispers on social media say that one of his bodyguards was severely injured. Four of the individuals took themselves to local hospitals for treatment while six others were transported by emergency medical workers.

Rob49 hails from New Orleans and has released a handful of full-length projects over the past two years along with a busy 2022 featuring a number of singles and collaborations. The conditions of the injured are not yet known nor have Montana or his team made an official statement to the public.

On Twitter, video of the shooting began circulating showing the injured suffering from their wounds on the pavement. We will not be sharing those images on this post.

Keep scrolling to see reactions from Twitter.

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