Man arrested in murder of Cleveland rapper
A suspect has been arrested following the murder of Cleveland rapper Kashbankx.
The 28-year-old (real name Carlos Banks) was shot and killed in the 5100 block of Broadway Ave on December 29th, 2024.
According to CBS News, members of the US Marshals-led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested 27-year-old Steven Smith on June 25th.
Smith was wanted by the Cleveland Division of Police on aggravated murder charges.
In a statement, US Marshal Pete Elliott said, “This arrest is the result of the relentless dedication and outstanding investigative work of the Cleveland Division of Police Homicide Unit.”
He continued, “Today’s arrest demonstrates that those responsible for acts of violence in our community will continue to be held accountable. We remain committed to seeking justice for the victim, and the residents of Cleveland.”
Kashbankx suffered gunshot wounds to the head and torso, with emergency services pronouncing him dead at the scene. Almost two years later, the homicide unit determined that Smith was involved and issued a warrant for his arrest.
A man named Devon Jones was arrested in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in January 2025, before being indicted in February 2025.
He was hit with murder charges, with police claiming that he and other men planned to rob Kashbanx and a woman to gain access to a building. From there, they allegedly shot him and fled the scene of the crime.
Kashbanx is best known for his song ‘100 Shots’, which was his debut single and has over 119,000 views on YouTube; ‘Ain’t the Same No Mo’ also has 16,000 views on the platform. Before his death, he was planning to release a new single called ‘Bad’ on January 1st, 2025.