The rapper Offset was hospitalized after being shot Monday evening near a casino in Florida, according to his representative, who said he is in stable condition.
Offset, whose real name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, was a member of the chart-topping rap duo Migos, who lost a member when rapper Takeoff was fatally shot in 2022. He was previously married to Cardi B, with whom he has three children.
The Seminole Police Department did not identify the person who was shot, but said they had been transported to Memorial Regional Hospital, and their injuries were not life-threatening.
The shooting happened at a valet area outside of the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, after 7 p.m. Monday, police said in a statement, adding that the incident started with a fight.
“The site is secure and there is no threat to the public,” police said. “Operations continue as normal.”
According to a statement from police, Tione Jayden Merritt was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the shooting.
“Merritt was booked into the Broward County Jail late last night,” the statement read. “The investigation to identify one or more additional persons involved in the incident is ongoing.”
New York attorney Dawn M. Florio posted a statement on social media Tuesday denying “false rumors” that Lil Tjay was involved in the shooting.
“Lil Tjay has not been shot, nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting,” the statement read. “Any reporting to the contrary is false. We encourage people to consult trusted news sources, and to verify the accuracy of any reporting, before reflexively sharing or repeating baseless rumors.”
Florio stated in a CNN interview that she had a brief conversation with her client and that he denies shooting Offset, despite the fact that he has not been prosecuted.
Rappers Offset, Quavo, and Takeoff, who make up the Atlanta-based trio Migos, gained notoriety with the 2013 smash song “Versace.” Their 2018 album “Culture” was nominated for a Grammy for best rap album, and a song from it was nominated for best rap performance.
The group broke apart after Takeoff was shot and died in November 2022 after a fight broke out during a private party at a Houston bowling alley, according to authorities at the time.
Takeoff’s uncle Quavo focused on preventing gun violence the next year, collaborating with the Community Justice Action Fund
The following year, Quavo, who was Takeoff’s uncle, turned to gun violence prevention, joining forces with the Community Justice Action Fund to meet with lawmakers in Washington, DC and in 2024 co-hosting a summit on the issue with then US Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Morgan Mbila
