Photo Credit: All Hip Hop
Tragedy struck Wednesday night at an Irving Plaza T.I. concert in New York City. Shots were fired before T.I. could hit the stage, killing one person and injuring three others.
Yesterday afternoon, it was confirmed by the New York Police Department that rapper Troy Ave was arrested in connection to the shooting.
Troy Ave was among those injured in the shooting and his bodyguard, Ronald McPhatter was the one fatality. It’s unclear if there was another shooter, but some reports indicate it may have been a member of rapper Maino’s crew.
As of now, however, Troy Ave is the only one being charged in the violence. He has been charged with attempted murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and is in police custody according to a statement from the NYPD.
T.I. released a statement last night on his Twitter, expressing his condolences to McPhatter’s family.
Rest In Peace Bro. God bless. pic.twitter.com/Vq6qFnq5bC
— T.I. (@Tip) May 26, 2016
Maino, on the other hand, released a full statement on his Instagram along with a photo of himself and Troy Ave, denying any conflict with the rapper or involvement in the shooting.
Video surveillance footage from the venue showed Troy Ave firing his weapon, and 9mm bullet casings were recovered from the scene. A motive has not been revealed, but the video footage shows an argument that escalated into a fist fight and then the shooting.
In a move that has drawn criticism and condemnation by Ronald McPhatter’s family, NYPD Commissioner, Bill Bratton, described the shooting as, “The crazy world of these so-called rap artists who are basically thugs that basically celebrate violence they did all their lives.”
The commissioner was interviewed on WCBS radio and continued that rappers “continue hanging out with the same people they hung out with when they came out of that world of desperation, poverty, and crime.”