Chicago-based rapper Lil Durk turned himself in Thursday night after being listed as wanted by Atlanta police in connection with a February shooting outside the Varsity, authorities confirmed.
Atlanta police secured warrants for the 26-year-old, whose given name is Durk Derrick Banks, on charges of criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He also faces a criminal street gang charge.
Credit: Paras Griffin
Credit: Paras Griffin
Police said gunfire erupted shortly before 6 a.m. Feb. 5 outside the famous Atlanta restaurant at the intersection of North Avenue and Spring Street.
RELATED: Shooting in the Varsity parking lot shuts down Spring Street for hours
The victim, identified as 23-year-old Alexander Weatherspoon, was shot once in the thigh.
Investigators believe the altercation started in the parking lot of the Varsity. After Weatherspoon was shot, he ran across the street before collapsing in front of a nearby cigar lounge, according to the report.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Investigators discovered 13 shell casings from a pistol and a rifle in the parking lot. A 9mm handgun was also recovered.
Witnesses interviewed at the scene told police Weatherspoon appeared to be in a verbal dispute with another man before shots rang out. While Durk's name isn't mentioned in the report, an Atlanta police spokesman confirmed the rapper is charged in connection with the incident.
On Wednesday, the rapper announced to his 4.8 million Instagram followers that he would surrender. Right before he turned himself in at the Fulton County Jail, a new song titled "Turn Myself In" was uploaded to his YouTube channel.
The shooting was captured on surveillance cameras from both the Varsity and the cigar bar, according to investigators. Weatherspoon was rushed to Atlanta Medical Center for surgery after the bullet struck his femoral artery, police said in the report.
Officials have not discussed the relationship between Weatherspoon and Lil Durk.
The rapper was one of 12 up-and-coming performers featured in XXL magazine’s 2014 “Freshman Class,” which included Chance the Rapper, Rich Homie Quan and Kevin Gates.
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