16-Year-Old Rapper Shot Dead While Filming Music Video
Aisha Nozari
Featured Image Credit: 23racks/Instagram
A 16-year-old rapper has been shot dead while filming a music video in Washington, DC.
23 Rackz, whose real name is Justin Johnson, was shot just before 11.30am on Thursday, 26 May.
Moments before he was shot, Johnson is thought to have shared his location on Instagram.
Drillz, a YouTube channel specialising in drill rap, noted: “23 Rackz was shot and killed in his neighbourhood after posting a video on Instagram.”
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The up-and-coming musician released album Rookie of the Year in 2021; the New York Post reports police are now offering $25,000 for the arrest of the teen’s shooter.
In the wake of Johnson’s death, DC radio host DJ Akademiks wrote on Instagram: “Man streets ain't playing only 16 smh brought him out to Suitland HS for myHS Tour and the kids went crazy.
“It's just sad to see another talented youth gone another parent losing a child."
Fox 5 reports that police found shell casings at the scene and the investigation is ongoing.
Johnson was considered part of the DMV rap genre and tributes have been paid on Twitter in recent days.
One person wrote: “This 23 rackz s**t got me sick. He was so talented to be so young. And had all the odds against him.”
Another added: “23rackz really was one of the youngest artist doing numbers and was on to bigger heights in the music scene. Bro had talent and the people behind him. Rest In Peace.”
“I’m sad they killed 23rackz it’s like being a rapper is a death sentence he was only 16 Pray for DC,” penned a third, with a fourth echoing: “Too f*****g soon.”
Others urged musicians not to share their location on social media, with one person tweeting: “23 rackz posted his location 2 hours ago. He just died a hour ago. This why I say never post your location man. You ain’t got s**t to prove. S**t sad. But it’s even worse cuz he ain’t the first and he won’t be the last.” [sic]
Another said: “This is why you never put your location on socials. RIP 23 Rackz smh.”
Disagreeing with the sentiment, another person wrote: “23rackz gets killed and people blaming him for posting his location. Hard to believe this is real life.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677