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Shooting of rapper Offset outside Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood Florida is yet to result in arrest of shooter
Mounting gambling debts could be motive
The FBI is seeking the public’s help to find the suspects in the shooting of former Mygos member Offset at a Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida.
A rapper known as Lil Tjay, Tione Jayden Merritt, was arrested for an altercation that occurred just prior to the shooting at the casino. He has not been linked to the actual shooting.
Lil Tjay's attorney was quick to point out that the Brooklyn rapper was not arrested in connection to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino shooting.
“We are issuing this release in regards to false rumors that Lil Tjay was involved in a shooting which occurred at the Valet Area of the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood which resulting in non-life threatening injuries to Offset, formerly a member of Migos.
"Lil Tjay has not been shot, nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting. Any reporting to the contrary is false. We encourage people to consult trusted news sources, and to verify the accuracy of any reporting, before reflexively sharing or repeating baseless rumors.”
Offset, who married "WAP" recording artist Cardi B in 2017, appeared to blame Lil Tjay from his hospital bed but the list of suspects could be long.
Reports began surfacing right after the shooting that rapper awas once sued by a Detroit casino for failure to pay a $100,000 debt.
That venue's attorneys allege that Offset opened a $100,000 line of credit while he was playing at the casino in March 2024. After making numerous attempts to contact the artist about his debt, MotorCity decided to take it out of his account as part of their mutual agreement. Unfortunately, Offset didn't have enough money in his account to cover the entire fee.
"We are working toward a resolution," his rep told TMZ.
Offset is being sued for breach of contract, fraud, and other offenses.
Police are looking at mounting gambling debts owed to others as a possible motive for the April 6 shooting of Offset outside a Hollywood, Florida casino.
The FBI office in Miami released an official statement about the situation with several pictures of those suspected to be involved in the altercation, as well as their getaway vehicles.
In some of the pictures, people can be seen talking on cellphones, walking down the street, and interacting with each other. The vehicles depicted in the photos show two Chevrolet SUVs. TMZ reports that one of them is a matte gray Tahoe and the other one is a black Suburban.
The FBI urges anyone with information about the incident to reach out to them at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
