The identity of the man killed in last night's shooting at Irving Plaza has been confirmed as Troy Ave's BSB affilate Banga.
The NYPD reported that a 33-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and transported to Beth Israel Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Soon after, tributes to Banga began pouring in on social media.
And old friend of Troy Ave, Banga ran his own fitness training company Big Bizz Fitness based in Brooklyn.
"He was always a positive brother," Banga's high school friend Chino "Norbes" Velez told HipHipDX. "We reconnected a couple years ago and he was showing love and proud of what I was doing with Smack. Me, him and Troy all went to the same high school. He was always a fun guy to be around, always joking and shit."
Troy Ave was shot in the leg. His injury was non-life threatening.
RIP Banga.
UPDATE: The shooting was the culmination of a beef between Troy Ave and Maino's crews, NY Daily News reports. Around 10 PM, a physical altercation in a third floor Irving Plaza green room burst out; someone produced a 9mm handgun and fired five shots. Banga was struck, and stumbled downstairs and collapsed next to a bar.
Banga's mother believes that her son died saving Troy Ave. “He actually cared a lot about Troy Ave. My wish is that Troy Ave cared as much about my son as he cared about him. I say that because I watched how my son would always bend over backwards to help him,” Rose said.