Lil Poppa's weekend memorial service was interrupted by gunfire, leaving four people shot and hospitalized.
On Saturday evening (February 21), people gathered at the intersection of A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and Jessie Street on the East Side of Jacksonville, Florida, to remember the life of the 25-year-old local rapper, who took his own life last Wednesday (February 18) in Georgia.
According to Action News Jax, the celebration ended just after midnight when a gunman opened fire. Police have said between 12-15 shots were fired. The four victims included two women, ages 34 and 39, and two men, aged 37 and 43. The 34-year-old woman was discovered on the scene and taken to a nearby hospital. The other three victims transported themselves to a hospital.
Lil Poppa (real name Janarious Mykel Wheeler) was signed to CMG in 2022, joining the Yo Gotti-founded label that includes artists GloRilla, MoneyBagg Yo, 42 Dugg, EST Gee, and more.
On Thursday (February 19), it was reported that Poppa died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The rapper, who had just released the video for his latest track, "Out of Town Bae," reportedly shot himself in the head, and his death has been ruled a suicide by the Fulton County Medical Examiner.
On Thursday, CMG shared a statement about Lil Poppa’s death, calling the young artist "an ambitious young man with depth beyond his years and endless potential."
"We are stunned and devastated by the loss of our beloved family member," the post said. "He was one of those rare artists who thoughtfully poured his pain, growth and truth into his art. … This is a truly heartbreaking loss for everyone who knew and loved him."
Robert Phelps, a local Jacksonville resident, told Action News Jax that Saturday evening’s shooting wasn’t normal for "out East."
"I haven’t seen anything like this happening or heard anything like this happening here in years, so yeah, definitely out of character," he said. "I mean, they always have gatherings every night."
He said he remembered Lil Poppa "as a little kid singing and rapping inside the church," before adding: "I enjoyed him. I hate that he’s gone."