Last night, an unknown gunman opened fired during T.I.’s show at Irving Plaza, injuring a 26 year old woman and a 34 year old man. Both victims are currently in stable condition and expected to recover from their injuries.
Amongst those victims were Troy Ave, who’s leg was grazed by a bullet, and a member of Troy Ave’s BSB crew, Ronald “Banga” McPhatter. McPhatter, 33, was shot in the stomach and taken to Beth Israel Hospital where he was pronounced dead. McPhatter was a longtime friend of Troy’s, who ran his own fitness training company, Big Bizz Fitness in Brooklyn. At this time, the shooter remains on the loose, however, a suspect was seen on surveillance footage with a gun.
Earlier today, New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton issued the following statement: “The crazy world of these so-called rap artists who are basically thugs that basically celebrate violence they did all their lives, and unfortunately that violence often times manifests itself during their performances, and that’s exactly what happened last evening.”
“The background of a lot of these young people, they are significant artists in that world… but unfortunately the lifestyles that they lived… often time follows them into the entertainment world and the success they have in it… It’s unfortunate. You’d like to think that with all the wealth that comes from the fame, that they’ll be able to turn their lives around but they continue hanging out with the same people they hung out with when they came out of that world of desperation, poverty, and crime.”
Sending condolences to McPhatter’s family.
