(AllHipHop News) Rapper Troy Ave made headlines yesterday (February 10) for his flashy appearance in court, where he wore a bulletproof vest and a bright red hat promoting cooking up crack cocaine.
Prosecutors agreed to allow the rapper to perform under some strict regulations as he awaits trial for an attempted murder charge, related to a deadly shooting last May at Irving Plaza in Manhattan.
Troy Ave was involved in an altercation with popular podcaster Taxstone, which left four people wounded, including Troy Ave.
The Brooklyn rapper’s longtime friend and his bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter was struck in the stomach and fatally wounded during the shootout.
But the biggest break Troy received, was when prosecutors revealed they now believe the rapper is not the culprit who brought the murder weapon into the club.
“This defendant is not the individual who brought the gun into Irving Plaza, which has been ballistically connected to the murder of Ronald McPhatter and the shooting of three other individuals, including the defendant,” Assistant District Attorney Christine Keenan said during Troy’s hearing yesterday (February 10) according to DNAinfo.
The revelation could clear the way for prosecutors to charge podcaster Taxstone, born Darryl Campbell, with murder.
Taxstone was arrested last month, but he was only charged with illegal gun possession.
But police managed to tie the 9mm Kel-Tec gun used in the shootout in New York, to another shooting in Florida.
According to reports, the gun was also connected to another man, who claims he sold it to an associate of Taxstone.
Prosecutors now believe Taxstone brought the weapon to Irving Plaza on May 25, since they allege they found his DNA on the murder weapon.
Troy Ave, however, is not out of the woods for his role in the shooting, after a sensational video hit the Internet showing the rapper blasting away at Tax during a packed event that was supposed to feature Atlanta rapper T.I. as the headliner.
“This does not alleviate his criminal responsibility for his actions or for the guns found in his van. These are very serious crimes, but this additional evidence was not known to us at the time of our original bail request,” said assistant D.A. Keenan.
Troy Ave is currently free on $500,000 bail and faces up to 20 years if he is convicted of the multiple felonies, which included attempted murder and weapons charges.
Troy has pleaded not guilty.