‘This is how ruthless these kids have become’: 20-year-old murdered over ‘perceived slight’ in rap video, cops say

An Ohio antheral has been indicted connected murder charges for allegedly gunning down a 20-year-old rapper from Cincinnati who made euphony videos “disrespecting” him and others arsenic portion of a “feud betwixt 2 groups,” prosecutors say.

The “retaliatory shooting” stemmed from a “rap video” that was released successful 2022 featuring unfortunate TreShawn “Ace” Smith, who is described by the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office arsenic a section “musician” caught up successful the alleged feud.

Things got excessively idiosyncratic for Ronnell Scott, 24, arsenic authorities accidental helium killed Smith successful a midday shooting implicit a “perceived slight,” according to a prosecutor’s bureau press release. Smith was hanging retired with friends Oct. 22, 2022, astatine the fountain connected Elm Street successful Lockland, astir 10 miles northbound of Cincinnati, erstwhile Scott allegedly drove by and changeable him successful the caput earlier fleeing, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office reports.

“Several interviews implicit the years helped authorities place the killer,” the prosecutor’s bureau said. “The sidesplitting came aft a feud betwixt 2 groups that progressive making rap videos disrespecting the different groups.”

Scott has been indicted connected charges of purposeful murder, felony murder, felonious battle and aggravated murder. He faces up to beingness successful situation if convicted, but helium inactive hasn’t been arrested arsenic of Sunday afternoon.

“These killings are senseless,” said Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich successful a connection past week. “Nothing, particularly a perceived flimsy successful a rap video, is worthy sidesplitting over,” the authoritative said. “Through bully investigatory enactment authorities identified Scott arsenic the shooter. We ne'er springiness up moving to question justness for victims.”

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Smith’s mother, Evvie Smith, had antecedently said that each she wanted successful beingness was to spot her son’s slayer “be brought to justice,” according to section Fox affiliate WXIX, aft going astir 3 years without an indictment.

“This is however ruthless these kids person become,” she told the presumption aft the slaying. “Whoever did this to him has a demonic tone and needs to beryllium prayed for.”

Describing her grief astatine the time, Evvie Smith added, “No genitor should person to hide their child. No genitor should person to cremate their child. No genitor should person to enactment their kid to rest. It’s not close and it’s not successful the bid it should go.”

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