Investigators are now allegedly convinced that another gunman was involved in the Irving Plaza shooting after spending more time with the concert venue’s surveillance footage.
According to Pix 11, sources connected to the investigation reportedly believe that someone else could have shot rapper Troy Ave (real name, Ronald Collins) and close friend Ronald “Banga” McPhatter. On the evening of May 25, shots rang out at the popular venue before headliner T.I. hit the stage. McPhatter, who was also the rapper’s bodyguard, died from a gunshot wound to the stomach.
Collins’ lawyer Scott E. Leemon denied the rapper had anything to do with his friend’s death. He was charged with attempted murder on Monday. Surveillance footage showed the rapper shooting into a crowd after he was shot in the leg. His legal team have called the rapper another victim in the deadly incident. “In the hip-hop world, he’s not known as one of these troublemakers. He doesn’t live a gangster rap lifestyle,” said attorney John Stella.
“What really happened here is Mr. Collins here is the real victim,” Leemon added. “The person who was killed at this event, he died a hero. He was his bodyguard. He wasn’t shot by Mr. Collins. He was a lifelong friend.”
Additional sources claimed Collins and another man got into a physical altercation before the shooting took place. It was during the fight the rapper and McPhatter were reportedly shot.
A second victim who remains unknown was shot in the chest. Model Maggie Carrie, the girlfriend of rapper Maino, was also shot in the leg.
Collins can face a murder charge following the results of a ballistics test.