Rapper Bankroll Gambino Killed In Drive-By Shooting That Injured Several Others In Southwest Philly, Manager Confirms
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The victim in a deadly drive-by shooting over the weekend in Southwest Philadelphia has been identified as 21-year-old Ezra Weah, also known as rapper Bankroll Gambino, his manager tells CBS3. The shooting happened outside of a home on the 2600 block of Carroll Street Sunday night as a group of about 10 men were about to start shooting a promotional video for the rapper's social media page.
Weah moved to Philadelphia from Liberia when he was 5-months old. Police say Weah was shot in the head and killed, and five other men were rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
"I cannot understand what happened, why they had to shoot, who did it, we have no clue. We have no idea who did it," Weah's aunt, Francis Tailey, said.
Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Captain Jason Smith says Weah may have been targeted because he was shot at while in a vehicle in the morning on the same day he was killed.
"Our preliminary investigation indicates that the decedent may have also been shot at while driving his vehicle at 4:12 a.m. on July 28th in the area of 53rd and Baltimore Avenue," Smith said.
Police say Weah had a loaded gun on him when he was killed. Eyewitness News checked police records and found he had four prior arrests.
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Weah's manager is determined to keep his name alive.
"His music is gonna live on forever. I want people to remember his name, Bankroll Gambino. I want them to remember it," manager Kenney Blake said.
By Monday morning, much of the bloodshed was cleaned up and police tape tossed in the trash. But the memories are still hard to bear.
"One was laying on top of the other one. The one that was sitting on top, on the steps, he was not moving at all," resident Ivan Escobar said.
Escobar was home when he heard the gunshots and quickly called 911. He didn't really know the man who died, just that he was nice.
"For me good people," Escobar said.
Several people were on the steps of a home about to shoot a promotional video when police say a gunman started shooting. Witnesses told police the shooter was firing from a vehicle.
Investigators say, in all, six men were shot. They are between 21 and 24 years old.
CBS3 reached out to the people who live at the home but they denied to comment.
The Philadelphia police commissioner is turning to the public for help to identify the shooter.
"We are hopeful that someone will come forward and let us know what happened," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said.
The community is calling for an end to the violence. So far, no arrests have been made.
CBS3's Crystal Cranmore and Chantee Lans contributed to this report.
