Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@ONLYinDADE/Instagram/@tekashi69
Topics: US News, Crime, News, Music, Tekashi 6ix9ine
Daisy Phillipson
Topics: US News, Crime, News, Music, Tekashi 6ix9ine
A group of men have been arrested in connection to an attack on rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine at a gym sauna earlier this month.
On 21 March, the 26-year-old music artist – real name Daniel Hernandez – was beaten and robbed at an LA Fitness in Lake Worth, Florida.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said at the time: "An altercation occurred between several individuals, leaving Daniel Hernandez injured.
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"Thankfully, his injuries are non-life threatening."
Following a call for information on the suspects, authorities confirmed that three men have been detained in connection to the crime.
Rafael Medina Jr, 43, Octavious Medina, 23, and Anthony Maldonado, 25, were taken into Palm Beach County Jail on Thursday (March 30).
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They now face charges of assault and robbery and are expected to appear in court today.
6ix9ine had been in the sauna with no security when he was attacked, with a viral video captured by bystanders showing him on the floor of the facility as the assailants kick and hit him.
The rapper's attorney, Lance Lazzaro, initially confirmed the news, saying he'll be calling on federal authorities to provide him with protection when he's out in public.
Lazzaro also told NBC News that the rapper did try to 'fight back' against his attackers.
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Back in 2018, 6ix9ine was facing decades behind bars after being arrested and given nine overlapping charges for gun possession, attempted murder and gang activity.
He initially pleaded not guilty, but then switched his plea to guilty as of January 2019 – at the time, it was reported that Hernandez had opted to cooperate with authorities.
But it was later understood that he had started working with the prosecution the very next day after his arrest.
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He was staring down the barrel of nearly 50 years behind bars, but that was cut down to just two after he cooperated with authorities.
The rapper didn't even end up serving the full 24 months as his lawyer managed to get him out early over fears he could catch coronavirus.
While many called him a 'snitch' for that act, he insisted back in 2021 that he was nothing of the sort.
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Speaking to TMZ, he said: "I wasn’t snitching. What I was doing was being smart and realised that God put me there to cut more grass to see the snakes in my grass."