Police Claim Lil Baby Video Shoot Clash Ignited Gang Violence, Killing Teens

Lil Baby is facing accusations over the deaths of two teenagers killed in Atlanta last year, with police tying the fatal shootings to gunfire that erupted during the rapper’s video shoot in May 2024. Police claim the video ignited a gang conflict tied to several shootings and homicides, including the July killings of 13-year-olds Jakody Davis and Lamon Freeman. Investigators suspect a “high-ranking” rival of Baby orchestrated the hit from a Georgia prison phone, targeting the teens—described as innocent bystanders—in a retaliatory strike.

At a Wednesday (February 26) press conference announcing seven arrests in the murder case, Major Ralph Woolfolk cast blame on Lil Baby, calling him a “coward.” “Lamon Freeman was allowed to be a 13 year old for 27 minutes before gang violence ultimately took his life. Gang violence that was orchestrated by adults. And the cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper that decided to go over into a rival gang stronghold and shoot a music video in a place that he knew he should not have been,” Woolfolk stated. Woolfolk seemed to speak to Baby himself, stating, “You know who you are. And I’ll tell you that this team will work relentlessly to hold you and the persons that you are affiliated with responsible for those actions.” A $50,000 reward is being offered for information tied to the case.

Gunfire Follows Rapper’s Rise

Lil Baby was unharmed in the shooting, which left three men wounded in the chest, arm, and neck. All victims survived and fully recovered.

TMZ reported the gunfire stemmed from a dispute between “two unknown parties” during the video shoot, which featured members of Baby’s Quality Control label. Gunfire erupted between two rival groups as tensions flared, leaving bystanders caught in the crossfire. By the time police arrived, paramedics were tending to two of the three people wounded in the shooting. Wham had faced gun violence before—bullets rang out at his 2023 Memphis show, leaving a man critically injured. The wounded man, later identified as CEO Jizzle, was a cousin of the late Young Dolph.