Atlanta rapper Young Scooter died on his 39th birthday Friday in a freak accident that occurred while fleeing a confrontation with police, according to authorities.
The hip-hop artist, whose real name is Kenneth Edward Bailey, died at Grady Marcus Trauma Center in Atlanta after sustaining an injury to his leg while jumping a fence, TMZ first reported.
Cops responded to a home in the southeast part of the city after receiving reports about shots fired and a female being dragged back inside as she attempted to flee, 11 Alive reported, citing Atlanta Police Department Lt. Andrew Smith.
Rapper Young Scooter attends Our Community First Action Inc. Convert at The Bank Event Center in Atlanta, Georgia on Oct. 6, 2024. WireImage
When officers arrived at the scene, a man opened the door and quickly slammed it in their face before two men fled the rear of the home when they saw cops establishing a perimeter, according to the outlet.
“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,” Smith said during a press conference Friday night.
Bailey later died at the hospital, and the Atlanta Medical Examiner’s Office has said the rapper’s cause of death is still under investigation, 11 Alive reported.
Smith, who did not identify Bailey, denied initial reports that Young Scooter was fatally shot by officers.
“Just to be very clear, the injury that was sustained was not via the officers on scene. It was when the male was fleeing,” he said.
Young Scooter performs during Future & Friends “One Big Party Tour” at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Jan. 14, 2023. WireImage
Young Scooter attends the all Black affair with several other rappers at Compound on Oct. 27, 2018. WireImage
Bailey was born in South Carolina and move to Atlanta with his family when he was 9, according to Billboard.
He had his first regional hit, “Colombia,” in 2012, the same year he signed to fellow ATL rapper Future’s Freebanz record label. Two years later, he teamed up with Future, Juicy J and Young Thug on ““DI$Function,” the outlet said, adding that he was featured on the latter’s “Guwop” in 2016 with Quavo & Offset of Migos.
The track peaked at No. 45 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2018, he appeared on “Jet Lag” with Future and Juice WRLD, which hit No. 72 on Billboard’s Top 100 Songs.
APD did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.
