Legendary Bronx singer and hip-hop star French Montana has been accused of negligence following a shooting on the set of his music video in January of this year. The visuals for French Montana’s song ‘Igloo’ were filmed in Miami Gardens, an infamous South Florida neighbourhood. The area is home to an abundance of housing schemes and projects, thereby being somewhat dangerous.
During the course of filming the music video, approximately ten people were shot in a drive-by shooting. According to Carl Leon (the individual who is pressing charges), Montana was negligent towards those who were severely injured and failed to provide adequate security and police detail while filming in the notorious neighbourhood.
In line with Leon’s allegations, Montana knew that the area could be potentially unsafe, yet with an indifference, chose not to provide security or police detail and therefore did not follow US law concerning creating a genuinely safe operating location. The lawsuit that has been brought forward is for “negligence”.
So far, the public knows Leon was among many gravely injured directly due to the shooting. Leon’s lawsuit specifically alleges that he “suffered great bodily injury and damages far in excess of the jurisdictional limits of this court.” The lawsuit has also blamed Coke Boys Records (Montana’s label) and the Licking restaurant. The shooting occurred in a restaurant car park outside a shopping centre. Therefore Leon has also chosen to sue the mall’s owners (Gayles Plaza). Leon is demanding damages over $50,000 and has requested a jury trial.
When news of the shooting was made public, the Licking restaurant distanced themselves from the music video and, in a statement given to CNN, claimed, “We were not aware of a video being filmed and found out last [minute]. French Montana was shooting a scene in the back parking lot. We have no idea what actually took place. The Licking restaurant has nothing to do with the incident and has given police the necessary footage requested.”
French Montana’s team released a statement on social media following the unwanted attention that read, “We, unfortunately, were at the wrong place, at the wrong time when an incident took place that left people hurt. Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims & families at this time.” One of the individuals injured was New Orleans rapper Rob49, although it is unlikely the artist will press charges. You can watch a radio segment concerning the shooting in the video below.
