Popular hip-hop podcaster, Taxstone, has been found guilty of multiple charges for his role in a 2016 shooting at Irving Plaza, according to ABC News.
The shooting stemmed from an apparent feud between Darryl Campbell, better known as Taxstone, and rapper Troy Ave. Troy was wounded in the incident, and his bodyguard, Ronald McPhatter, was killed after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest.
On Thursday, a New York State Supreme Court jury found Taxstone guilty of manslaughter in the first degree, two counts of assault in the first degree, one count of assault in the second degree, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
He is expected to be sentenced on April 19 inwhat District Attorney Alvin Bragg called a “tragic and deadly confrontation in a packed New York City music venue.”
The charges are in connection to the 2016 shooting, which left McPhatter dead andthree others seriously injuredduring during a T.I. concert at Irving Plaza in Manhattan.
Earlier this month, The Shade Room reported Troy Ave testified in Taxstones murder trial that the two struggled over the gun that was used in the deadly shooting of the rappers bodyguard at a T.I. concert back in 2016.
Days prior to Troy Ave taking the stand, his rival Taxstone suggested hed be lying in his testimony.
However, Ave said it was fight or flight in the shooting death of Ronald Banga McPhatter, and that hed rather die fighting, in an incident that saw him get shot in both legs, according to the New York Post.
If its fight or flight Im always going to fight because at that point you could die, Troy Ave said.
The Brooklyn rapper compared their tussle to a high school wrestling match, adding this all happened (so) fast. I (got) up and started fighting Taxstone, trying to take him and grab the gun.
When the shot goes off I see the light from the spark and I hear the shot, he said. This is all happening fast. I get up and start fighting Taxstone, trying to take him, grab the gun, and another shot goes off. I put my leg up to kind of block the shot from hitting me in the face or chest.
He continued: I got up,getting shot, Ave said. Id rather die fighting. People die from leg shots. Id rather die fighting than laying on the ground. I got up immediately.
Ave went on to testify that he tried to shoot Taxstone after getting his hands on the firearm, however the gun misfired as Taxtone fled the scene.
He ended up being the only one seen in CCTV footage firing the weapon, which was eventually discovered in the vehicle he had used to drive himself to a nearby hospital.
Ave was initially arrested for attempted murder, however those charges were later dropped after Taxstones DNA was found on the trigger of the gun in question. Taxstone himself was then arrested, the Post reports.
Following his testimony earlier this month, Ave took to Instagram and made a post referencing Jay-Z lyrics that read: Today is the day I finally get to clear my name.
He continued, Its been almost 7 years since I lost one of my closest friends #RIPBANGA
I took it all on the chin, never complained about the stress even tho I felt it. Never complained about the pain even tho it hurt! Never shed a tear even tho my heart was crying!
This is a developing story. Be sure to check in with The Shade Roomfor more updates as they come.
