Lil Baby blamed for the murder of two 13-year-olds in gang war
Following an investigation, Lil Baby has been blamed for the deaths of two teenagers in Atlanta. The city’s police department has concluded that it was directly caused by the emcee, who they called “cowardly” during a statement.
According to the Atlanta police department, by recording a music video in a rival gang area in July 2024, Lil Baby allegedly sparked a chain reaction that resulted in the death of two 13-year-olds, Jakody Davis and Lamon Freeman. The head of the APD’s Violent Crime Interdiction Section, Major Ralph Woolfolk, has asserted that after a thorough assessment, the department discovered that Lil Baby’s video led to a violent and fatal gang war.
Speaking to local television stations, Woolfolk declared, “The cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper that decided to go into a rival gang stronghold in a place he knew he should not have been.”
Last year, during the video shoot on rival gang territory, three men were shot, which led to a series of shootings and homicides in the same Atlanta neighbourhood. Police have also recently confirmed that the murder of Jakody Davis and Lamon Freeman was reported by a high-ranking member of the gang opposing Lil Baby’s, further implicating him.
Woolfork stated his team will “work relentlessly to hold you [Lil Baby] accountable” and has offered a $50,000 reward for any Atlanta residents who are willing to come forward with more relevant information.
The two 13-year-olds who were killed were two of three boys shot outside of Davis’ home as they celebrated Freeman’s birthday. So far, Quiyontay Sanders, Richard Hollis, Reginald Thomas, Dekeitheon Mobley, and Markus Crawford have been charged with murder. The two final suspects, Tradon Crawford and Ali Caldwell, were arrested on February 25th.
The video shoot which prompted the gang war took place last year and was called in after several gunshots were heard in the Hidden Village Apartments on Verbena St. It then was discovered that the shooting had been a drive-by.
In a statement, police shared: “On May 14th, 2024, at approximately 4:50PM, officers responded to 2179 Verbena Street NW in reference to several persons shot. Upon arrival, officers located a 24-year-old male who sustained an apparent gunshot wound to the arm and a 27-year-old male who sustained an apparent gunshot wound to the back. Both of the males were alert, conscious, and breathing and were transported to the hospital for treatment.”
It continued, “Officers later located a 23-year-old male, who had been self-transported to the hospital, with an apparent gunshot wound to the neck. That male was alert, conscious, and breathing and was being attended to by medical personnel. Preliminary investigation indicates that the incident occurred during a video shoot.”
Lil Baby is yet to be officially charged with any crime.