A South Carolina concert for rapper Foogiano turned violent. A shooting left two dead on Sunday, July 5.
HiphopDX reported that Foogiano was performing at Lavish Lounge in Greenville, South Carolina. At around 2 AM, Greenville County deputies noticed the trouble from the club. Sheriff Hobart Lewis said a large crowd was running out of the building. Lewis made the statement in a press conference.
Lt. Jimmy Bolt of the Greenville County Sheriff's Department also released a report. He noted the presence of "active gunfire from inside the building." Sheriff Lewis added that all shots were fired inside the venue. The Sheriff also added that the Foogiano shooting is "probably gang-related."
In their statement, the Greenville County officers also said that 12 people were wounded. At least four of them were critical. However, Billboard cites Bolt's statement to The Associated Press. The officer noted that two victims were most likely counted twice. It was reportedly due to a confusion in the hospital.
All injured were taken to the Prisma Health Upstate's Greenville Memorial Hospital. Greenville County Coroner Parks Evans Jr. identified the two people who died in the incident. One of them was 23-year-old Greenville native Mykala Bell.
The other was 51-year-old Duncan resident Clarence Sterling Johnson. According to Lewis, Johnson was the security guard at the venue. He was armed but unable to return fire.
In their statement, Lewis has also stated that there is a "large amount of blood." He added that "a lot of spent rounds" were found inside the club. Lewis also described the venue-turned-crime scene. He said it was filled with a lot of things "turned over and in disarray." Shoes, clothes, and cellphones were scattered in the scene.
So far, no one has been taken into custody. But according to Greenville News, investigators are corroborating "five different stories." Officials are also confirming that Foogiano was not responsible for the shooting. The first shot was fired at 1:46 AM, the Sheriff said.
Another event in violation of social distancing protocols?
The rapper announced his concert on Instagram. On Saturday, he wrote: "Greenville y'all ready!? Tonight bout to be a f**king movie."
From their inquiry, Sheriff Lewis said that about 200 people were inside the night club at the time of the shooting. This is more than the maximum allowable capacity. Emergency restrictions have been put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some venues are allowed to operate at less than half the capacity.
Gov. Henry McMaster has already ordered the closure of nightclubs. Although, the South Carolina governor has allowed bars and restaurants to operate at 50% capacity on May 11.
The Sheriff's Office verified that the Lavish Lounge did not have an exception. Sheriff Lewis is working with the state's Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation and the State Law Enforcement Division. They are set to discuss the odds of revoking the club's license to operate.
Foogiano, born Kwame Brown, is signed under Gucci Mane's 1017 records. He is behind the hits "Trapper," "SoIcyBoys," and "Purple Runtz." He first earned fame for his 2005 single "Ballin' On A B***h."
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