Young Scooter, who passed on his 39th birthday after a hoax 911 call resulted in deadly police response, is remembered as the tragic loss that has made the hip-hop community break into pieces. The Atlanta rapper’s family has come forward, devastated but thankful for their outpouring of support since this shocking incident.
In an emotional statement about Kenneth “Young Scooter” Bailey’s death, the rapper’s relatives said they were still looking for answers in the case through a publicist.
“We are absolutely devastated by the loss of Kenneth ‘Young Scooter’ Bailey and are still awaiting additional details to help us better understand the situation,” the family said in a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta.
It came the same day that Atlanta police arrested the woman suspected of placing the false 911 call that started the tragic chain of events that resulted in Scooter’s death, 31-year-old Demetria Spence.
On March 28, Spence reportedly made a 911 call, identifying herself as a member of a neighborhood watch and describing a violent emergency, the officials said. She described horrific scenes: gunfire, a naked woman bleeding from the head, and men said to be engaged in drug and sex trafficking.
“She ran outside naked and then he was fighting her outside,” the caller said to the dispatcher. “She tried to get away. He pulled her back in the house… she’s being held hostage.”
When officers arrived at the southwest Atlanta home described in the call, they didn’t find evidence of gunfire or any of the violent action described in the call. But in all the confusion, two men escaped. Young Scooter tried to flee by leaping fences only to be severely leg-wounded by wooden debris. He died from blood loss, and the Fulton County Medical Examiner determined his death was accidental.
Though the circumstances that led to his death are tragic, Scooter’s family wants him to be remembered for the legacy he created while alive. Young Scooter was not only an artist but also a father and a role model for many young artists and ball players in Atlanta.
“Adolescent Scooter was more than just a hip-hop artist,” the family said. “He served as a phenomenal father, as well as a mentor for a lot of Atlanta youth who were in search of both sports and music. Scooter stood up for them, and was their support. He always believed that his children and young people should strive for their dreams no matter what.”
The family also thanked the public for their outpouring of support. “The family appreciates the outpouring of support and love from the city and throughout the country. At this time, they are asking for privacy and prayers as they grieve and await answers.”
Spence, who is aspiring to become a reality TV star, was taken into custody on April 1 and is still in lockup at Fulton County Jail. She faces a charge under Georgia law of “transmitting a false public alarm” in a case in which serious injury or death resulted from a public safety response. The authorities have not determined her motive in filing the false report.
As the investigation continues, the Atlanta rap scene and Young Scooter’s supporters are left reeling over an unfathomable loss. His music, influence, and mentorship will never be forgotten; his legacy will live on through all he touched. Rest in power, Young Scooter.
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