American rapper Young Scooter tragically lost his life on his 39th birthday in what has been described as a freak accident while fleeing from police.
The hip-hop artist, whose real name was Kenneth Edward Bailey, succumbed to injuries at Grady Marcus Trauma Center in Atlanta after sustaining a leg injury while jumping a fence, TMZ first reported.
Incident Details
Authorities responded to a southeast Atlanta home following reports of gunfire and a woman being forcibly taken back inside after attempting to escape, according to 11 Alive, citing Atlanta Police Lt. Andrew Smith.
Upon arrival, officers encountered a man who briefly opened the door before slamming it shut. Shortly after, two men attempted to flee through the back of the home as police set up a perimeter.
“One male returned to the house, while the other jumped two fences during his escape attempt. Officers later found him injured on the other side,” Smith stated during a press conference Friday night.
Bailey was transported to the hospital, where he later passed away. The Atlanta Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet confirmed an official cause of death, and an investigation remains ongoing.
Clarification on Shooting Reports
Lt. Smith dismissed early reports suggesting Young Scooter had been shot by police, stating: “To be very clear, the injury sustained was not caused by officers at the scene. It occurred while the individual was fleeing.”
Young Scooter’s Legacy
Born in South Carolina, Bailey relocated to Atlanta with his family at age 9. He rose to prominence in 2012 with his breakout hit “Colombia”, the same year he signed with Future’s Freebandz label.
His career highlights include collaborations with Juicy J, Young Thug, Quavo, and Offset on the 2014 track “DI$Function”, as well as appearances on Future & Juice WRLD’s “Jet Lag” (2018) and Migos’ “Guwop” (2016). His music earned spots on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with “Guwop” peaking at No. 45 and “Jet Lag” reaching No. 72 on the Billboard Top 100.
