- The St. Petersburg Police Department at a press conference hosted after the arrest alleged that Rod Wave was connected to a gang-related shooting in Florida that left four bystanders injured.
- Rod Wave’s lawyers, Bradford Cohen and Mark Rankin, stated that the rapper was “arrested and detained with absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing.”
American rapper Rod Wave has been arrested on charges of possession of a firearm.
According to official arrest records, he was taken into custody in Manatee County, Florida on Wednesday.
The St. Petersburg Police Department, during a press conference held after the arrest, claimed that Rod Wave was linked to a gang-related shooting in Florida. This incident occurred outside the Sonic Sports Bar in St. Petersburg, resulting in four bystanders being injured.
The shooting took place on Sunday, March 31, St. Petersburg Police Chief Mike Kovacsev stated that three of the apprehended assailants (identified as Christopher Atkins, Keith Westby, and Kevontre Wesby) are allegedly associated with the ‘Young Gangsters’ gang. Additionally, two more individuals are currently in the process of being arrested.
In contrast, Rod Wave’s legal representatives, Bradford Cohen and Mark Rankin, asserts that the rapper was unjustly arrested and detained without any evidence of wrongdoing.
In an official statement released via Instagram, the rapper’s attorneys clarified that he was not in possession of a firearm at the time of his arrest.
In another development, a total number of six have been arrested over the murder of South African rapper AKA.
Recall that the 33-year-old musician, whose real name is Kiernan Forbes, and his friend were shot and killed in February 2023 outside of a restaurant in the seaside city of Durban.
AKA and his best friend, Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motshoane, were killed at close range by two armed guys while walking to their car.
However, during a press briefing on Tuesday night, KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi stated that the accused will appear in court on Thursday.
In a viral video, Mkhwanazi, a lieutenant-general, revealed how the culprits were apprehended and their roles in the rapper’s death.
