UPDATED 6/23, 4:34 p.m. ET: Sources have shed more light on Lil Tjay’s condition.
A day after the rapper underwent emergency surgery, insiders told TMZ he remains unconscious with little to no body movement. Tjay is expected to have a CT scan soon.
Prosecutors also confirmed Mohamed Konate—Tjay’s suspected shooter—was arrested after he arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds. Authorities say surveillance footage shows Konate being left on the ground outside the medical facility.
UPDATED 6/22, 9:45 p.m. ET: Authorities have arrested a man in connection to Lil Tjay’s shooting in New Jersey.
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Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced 27-year-old Mohamed Konate was taken into custody Wednesday, just hours after he allegedly opened fire on Tjay during an attempted robbery at a shopping center. Tjay was reportedly wounded multiple times, while one of his friends, Antoine Boyd, was shot once.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Edgewater Police Department say Konate tried to rob Tjay, Boyd, and Jeffrey Valdez shortly after midnight in Edgewater. He was is now facing three counts of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of first-degree armed robbery, a multiple weapons-related charges.
Valdez and Boyd were also arrested and each charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Prosecutors say the two are being held in Bergen County Jail pending their first court appearance. Konate is reportedly awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the rapper, legal name Tione Merritt, has undergone emergency surgery and appears to be doing better; however, the extent of his injuries and current condition were not immediately known.
Shortly before the shooting, Tjay posted the following “PSA” on his Instagram stories: “Just because you’ve been around a person doesn’t make you entitled to the fruits of that persons labor. Envy Is At An All Time High Be Safe Outchea.”
See the original story below.
Lil Tjay was reportedly shot overnight in the Edgewater area of New Jersey.
According to TMZ, which cited “law enforcement sources,” 21-year-old Tjay was set to undergo emergency surgery following the alleged shooting. The report alleges the incident was comprised of one shooting at a local Chipotle, as well as another shooting at a gas station. While the article also includes mention of a second victim, additional information had not been made public at the time of this writing.
Complex has reached out to reps for Lil Tjay for comment.
Though names were not given, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Edgewater Police Department both shared a short statement Wednesday morning, seemingly in reference to the same incident. At the time, it was said that “more details” would be shared soon.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office went on to tweet just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday that “per initial investigation, [the shooting] does not appear to be random act and one victim upgraded from critical to stable condition. Other admitted to hospital with non-life threatening injuries in good condition.”
In a slightly more detailed release subsequently shared here, prosecutor Mark Musella said police responded to a 911 call just after midnight at the Promenade, where they found a victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Another victim, with a single gunshot wound, was located at an Exxon station.
As for potential suspects, TMZ said Wednesday morning they remained at large.
Last month, Tjay linked with Kaash Paige for the official video for their well-received collab “24 Hrs.” He also recently rolled out the video for solo cut “Goin Up.”