Who goes to video shoots with loaded guns? Ask this question to rapper Lil Tjay, who got busted on Monday (Jan. 16) in the Bronx, at a traffic stop after authorities found loaded firearms in his car. Tjay was on his way for a video shoot with fellow NYC rapper Ice Spice. Lil Tjay is presently in custody along with his four other companions. Read on to learn more about this incident.
Authorities Found Loaded Firearms…
NYC rapper Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Jayden Merritt, was busted at a traffic stop on Monday (Jan. 16) while he was driving his SUV to a video shoot with fellow NYC rapper Ice Spice. Tjay was accompanied by four other friends, who have also been taken into custody.
The cops at the traffic stop found loaded firearms in his Cadillac Escalade when the 21-year-old musician was pulled over by the authorities due to his SUV’s tinted windows and a missing license plate. The New York Police Department (NYPD) revealed that four guns were confiscated during the traffic stop at 183rd Street and Ryer Avenue
Tjay, and two other people, were later charged with criminal possession of weapons. Sources confirmed that the “Calling My Phone” artist was on his way to shoot a music video. His Instagram story read: “Video shooot today lol it’s lit.” Tjay’s arrest comes months after he was shot several times in an attempted robbery at a shopping plaza in New Jersey.
More About The Incident
While sources claim that Lil Tjay was on his way to shoot a music video with Ice Spice, the “Bikini Bottom” rapper’s arrest at the same time raises several questions. If you aren’t aware, Ice Spice also had a run-in with police around the same time in a separate incident. However, she wasn’t arrested or charged with anything.
However, she was accompanied by a man, named Markus Grisham, who was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. It came out that Markus had a loaded 9-millimetre gun on him when Ice Spice was pulled over at the stop. Whether it’s coincidence or there’s much to the story, definitely raises brows.
Lil Tjay’s arrest comes after the last year’s shooting when rumors sprouted that he was left paralysed and brain dead. If you may recall, on June 22, 2022, the 21-year-old rapper was shot seven times during an attempted robbery in Edgewater, New Jersey.
After the shooting, he was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. As for the accused, police arrested 27-year-old Mohamed Kanote, who too was hit by gunfire during the robbery but escaped.
Rumors circulated that he was paralyzed and possibly brain-dead. However, these rumors were later debunked after Lil jay released a video, stating how he’s doing better and is “going to come back stronger than ever” while wearing a neck brace. In August 2022, Lil Tjay released his single “Beat the Odds,” detailing his near-death experience following the shooting.