McPhatter pictured on his Facebook page.
A Brooklyn man was killed at a T.I. show in New York City with reports saying the culprit was one of his close friends, rapper Troy Ave. Ronald “Edgar” McPhatter was named by the NYPD as the person who was killed during the attack that took place at around 10 p.m. on May 25. Three other people were wounded during the incident which was said to have been a disagreement between Troy Ave’s entourage and rapper Maino’s crew. He was 33 years old.
Less than 24 hours after the shooting, Troy Ave was arrested by detectives at the NYU Langone Medical Center, reports Pix11.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. His Mother Is Furious That Troy Ave Hasn’t Reached Out to Her Family After the Shooting
WANTED: Info/witnesses regarding homicide at Irving Plaza in Manhattan. Call #800577TIPS. t.co/HuL0YszMK8
In an interview with the New York Daily News, McPhatter’s mother, Rose McPhatter, expressed her anguish and anger that Troy Ave hadn’t contacted her family. She said:
He actually cared a lot about Troy Ave. My wish is that Troy Ave cared as much about my son as he cared about him. I say that because I watched how my son would always bend over backwards to help him.
If he (Troy Ave) cared about my son as much as he alleged he does, I would’ve received a call from him. He didn’t call me. He didn’t call any of my other sons.
The Daily News later reported that detectives believe it was Troy Ave who pulled the trigger, killing McPhatter.
2. McPhatter Had a Pending Charge for Attempted Murder
(Facebook)
McPhatter had a pending attempted murder charge from a fight that broke out a bar in Manhattan in November 2015, reports DNA Info.
The incident occurred at midtown bar Pergola. McPhatter shot at a Queens man, Charles Dunwoody, 37. DNA Info says that McPhatter was later charged with felonious assault while the New York Daily News reports that those charges were upgraded to attempted murder. Dunwoody was accused of firing back at McPhatter and another man, 33-year-old Gadell Gibbs.
CBS New York reported at the time that 21-year-old woman was winged by a stray bullet during the shooting.
3. He Owned a Brooklyn-Based Fitness & Personal Training Business
A photo McPhatter posted on Facebook just a few hours before his death. (Facebook)
According to his Instagram page, McPhatter owned and operated a Brooklyn-based fitness company named Big Bizz Fitness. Just a few hours before his death, McPhatter, a native of Crown Heights, posted the above photo of himself working out. He graduated from New Utrech High School in 2002.
In his role within Troy Ave’s entourage, McPhatter went by the moniker “B$B Banga.”
The Daily News reported in November 2007 that McPhatter had been charged with obstructing government administration. It came during an incident where NYPD officers were accused of police brutality against a man named Tahaqa DeJesus. That piece notes that McPhatter had never been in trouble with the law up to that point.
4. In the Wake of the Attack, the NYPD Commissioner Called All Rappers ‘Basically Thugs’
(Getty)
In response to the shooting, NYPD Commissioner Ray Bratton attracted controversy when he told WCBS 880:
The crazy world of the so-called rap artist, who are basically thugs that are basically celebrating the violence they lived all their lives. Unfortunately, that violence often manifests itself during a performance, and that’s exactly what happened last evening.
The music unfortunately often times celebrates violence, celebrates degradation of women, celebrates the drug culture.
He added that he expected the investigation into the shooting to wrap up quickly.
According to an NYPD news release, no arrests have been made. The statement says that, in addition to McPhatter, a 26-year-old woman was shot in the leg, a 34-year-old was shot in the chest and a 30-year-old man was shot in the leg.
5. There Was a Fatal Shooting at the After Party of a T.I. Concert in Ohio in 2006
One of T.I.’s friends, Philant Johnson, was shot dead at the after party for one of the rapper’s shows in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2006. T.I. testified at the trial of Hosea Thomas, the man accused of the shooting, reported the Cincinnati Enquirer. He was sentenced to 66 years in prison for his role in the killing.
T.I. would later dedicate the songs “Live in the Sky” and “Dead and Gone” to Philant Johnson.
TONIGHT: @AdamSandler & @karliekloss! Plus, music from @AndersonPaak and The Free Nationals ft. @Tip! #FallonTonight
A few hours before the shooting, T.I. appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon in a performance with rappers Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals.
Tweets that Paak sent after the shooting seem to indicate he was at the concert: