DaBaby’s legal team has responded to recent claims that new footage of his fatal shooting of a 19-year-old at a North Carolina Walmart contradicts his self-defense claim.
Per TMZ, the rapper’s lawyers denied that the Rolling Stone-published surveillance footage, which was previously unseen, contradicts his self-defense narrative. Drew Findling, and Marissa Goldberg, who both represent DaBaby, said the footage of the shooting was reviewed by prosecutors back in 2018. They deduced that DaBaby, whose real name is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, did act in self-defense.
“Witnesses were interviewed and corroborated Mr. Kirk's statement,” the rapper’s legal team told the outlet. “The entirety of the surveillance video was viewed and determined to corroborate Mr. Kirk's statement ... Mr. Kirk was protecting himself and his family at the time of the shooting."
The shooting took place at a Walmart in North Carolina on Nov. 5, 2018. DaBaby shot and killed 19-year-old Jaylin Craig, and the victim’s family have repeatedly made it clear how they feel the investigation was improperly handled. Craig’s friend, Henry Douglas, claimed the incident started when DaBaby was annoyed that he was recognized in public.
He allegedly told Craig and Douglas they should go outside and fight, although DaBaby has claimed the victim and his friend were the instigators. The footage shows the rapper punching what Rolling Stone describes as a “blindsided Douglas,” and then pulling out a handgun and shooting Craig. The rapper has said that Craig brandished the firearm he was carrying at the time of the incident, although the footage has proved “inconclusive” in regards to that claim.
