RAPPER Young Scooter has tragically died on his 39th birthday while fleeing from cops, police confirmed on Friday.
The hip-hop artist from Atlanta, whose real name is Kenneth Edward Bailey, is said to have jumped a fence and sustained a severe leg injury on March 28.
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Police did not elaborate on the injury but he was pronounced dead at the Grady Marcus Trauma Center in Atlanta after emergency teams took him there following the incident.
According to reports by 11 Alive that cited Atlanta Police Department Lt. Andrew Smith, cops were called to a home after calls about shots being fired.
Locals also allegedly reported that a woman was dragged back inside the home after she attempted to flee the residence.
When officers arrived on the scene, a man reportedly slammed the door in their faces, and two men ran out of the back of the home when cops were working on securing the scene.
At a press conference on Friday night, the Atlanta Lt said: “One male returned back into the house.
“The other male jumped two fences as he was fleeing.
“When officers located him on the other side of the fence, he appeared to have suffered an injury to his leg.”
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bailey was the man who was injured while jumping the fences.
The rapper, who was not identified by Smith at the conference, later died in hospital with the city’s Medical Examiner’s Office saying a cause of death is still being investigated.
With the femoral artery running from the groin down the inside of the leg to the back of the knee, it is possible that it played a part in the injury Bailey sustained.
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Smith denied reports that emerged shortly after the incident that Bailey was fatally shot by cops.
He said: “Just to be very clear, the injury that was sustained was not via the officers on scene. It was when the male was fleeing.”
The Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that an autopsy would be carried out.
The rapper was known for his work with fellow rappers Gucci Mane and Future.
Bailey, who was born in South Carolina and moved to Atlanta at the age of nine was signed with Future’s Freebanz label in 2012.
That year he also released his first hit, “Colombia,” before later collaborating with Future, Juicy J, and Young Thug on “DI$Function.”
Some of his collaborations have seen him feature in Billboard’s Top 100 songs and other charts.
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‘BROKEN’
Hours after birthday messages were shared on his Instagram stories, tributes flooded Bailey’s social media accounts following the news of his death.
Heartbreaking messages read: “Happy flyday unc continue blessing the streets.”
“Happy birthday to my brother @youngscooter more life more blessings family,” another wrote.
“More life brother happy bird day @youngscooter 4L”, a third added.
Quickly the messages turned to tributes with comments flooding his most recent Instagram posts saying, “Damn bro, Long Live you” and “Rest in peace”.
Fellow musician Diamond, whose real name is Brittany Nicole Carpentero commented with a heartbroken emoji: “I just spoke to you” while others added: “Damn bro, on yo birthday too man rip”.
He leaves behind at least two daughters aged 12 and 10, and two young sons, one who graduated from high school last year.
Kenneth Bailey Jr posted on Instagram: “Damn my best friend gone.
“Happy Birthday too I know exactly what to do fasho tho you know I got my sisters and brothers they overly good yo son a Hustla just like you.”
He later added: “Broken into a million pieces ion wish dis pain on nobody.”
Bailey Jr graduated from Phoenix High School on May 15, 2024, with his proud father sharing a video of him crossing the stage saying: “Keep going kid I’m behind you.”
