Credit: 88Dub

A man has recalled the moment a Fort Worth police officer gunned down a rapper.

26-year-old 88Dub (real name Elijah Mayo) died on May 16th after the Fort Worth Police Department shot and killed him.

The incident occurred at around midnight on Wiman Drive near Eastland Street, with police responding to reports of gunfire.

88Dub is accused of refusing to drop a firearm and pointing a gun at officers, with one of them opening fire. He later died in the hospital.

Speaking to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the rapper’s friend, Billy Kirven, described the incident. Kirven claims that after running to their car, some people who they couldn’t see started shooting.

“We never heard [them saying] Fort Worth Police Department,” he said. “I heard them tell him, ‘Put the gun down,’ but by that time he was already shot, and his body locked up on him. I just know for sure [88Dub] didn’t up a gun at the people that came beside us, which was the police officers.”

He continued, “Every time I try to close my eyes, all I see is my bro, and I couldn’t help. That’s the worst part.”

Kirven said that 88Dub was a “life of the party type person” who was trying to make it as a rapper on a big scale. “He wanted to be a signed artist, like he wanted to really switch his lane up and get millions for his music,” he said. “He didn’t want to be stuck in Fort Worth.”

He added, “I wish they could have at least used pepper spray or some other methods instead of just shooting. Then they killed someone else in the area later on.”