As New York police investigators try to get to the bottom of the Irving Plaza shooting that left three injured and one dead last week, rappers are defending Troy Ave — the Brooklyn MC who was wounded in the leg and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges after a video surfaced that appeared to show him firing a gun at the venue.
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Troy Ave: A Quick Rundown on the Rapper Charged Following Irving Plaza Shooting
“The laws they made ain’t designed to protect us!,” offered Philadelphia rhymer Meek Mill in an Instagram post under a photo of Troy Ave in a wheelchair. “They like ‘get killed or get a 100 years.’ Don’t let the press ‘gas’ you to go against ya own people! Because if that was a cop Tryna protect his life the police force gone stand behind them 100%.”
New York hip-hop mogul 50 Cent shared a shorter message on his own Instagram feed. “Self Defense thats more like it now. Hold ya head TROY. See how the story change.”
The most recent statement from Troy Ave came from his lawyer, Scott Leemon, who said the accused rapper was the “real victim.” Troy Ave’s bodyguard, Ronald McPhatter, 33, died after the shooting. Leemon added, “[Troy’s] longtime friend and bodyguard died trying to protect him. As my co-counsel, John Stella, said in court, Troy has no criminal record and he is not a gangsta rapper.”