Credit: Wowdy HBTL

Wowdy HBTL has been charged with murder. The Bronx rapper, best known for his song ‘Face of the What?’, was allegedly involved in a shooting that left one person dead and another with life-threatening injuries.

The 25-year-old (real name Robert Royal) was charged with murder, attempted murder, gang assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. He and 20-year-old Daeven Reyes were held without bail after their arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court on August 25th.

According to the New York Post, 17-year-old Messiah Hugie and 16-year-old Ny’Zay Wigfall were also charged with murder, but due to their ages, their cases will be handled with the youth part of the court.

Wigfall was arraigned on August 26th and held without bail, and Hugie is set to appear in court on August 27th.

The four people are accused of opening fire at a basketball tournament in the Bronx’s Haffen Park at around 7:30pm on August 23rd. 32-year-old Jaceil Banks lost his life, while four others were injured, including a 17-year-old girl, Anthonaya Campbell, who is in critical condition.

Wowdy has a pending case for allegedly assaulting a cop, as well as two sealed cases. His mother, Mattie Losey, said her son was charged with attempted murder and gun possession in another case but was ultimately acquitted.

“It’s mistaken identity because that [victim] was his friend,” she said. “It was a shootout there. He was running home. He ran from the bullets and they came and he came behind him and they bust my door open. They came up in there and they locked him up. I’m tired of these police.”

Wowdy HBTL’s biggest single, ‘Face of the What?’, was released in 2022 and has over 1.5 million Spotify streams. The song appeared on his Too Oppy EP and serves as a collaboration with fellow Bronx rapper, Sha EK.