When federal agents were beginning their search of rapper Juice WRLD’s plane Sunday, law enforcement and witnesses say he ingested several Percocets in an effort to hide them from the FBI, which likely led to his death.
Law enforcement officials told The Source that the pilot flying the Chicago rapper to Midway International Airport in a private jet tipped them off to Juice WRLD’s crew having illegal guns in their possession. Once they landed, the FBI and FAA were awaiting to search the belongings of the rapper and his entourage. At some point between landing and the search, the hip-hop star, whose real name is Jarad Higgins, swallowed a large amount of Percocet pills in an attempt to hide them from authorities, according to The Source.
»MORE: Witnesses say Juice WRLD popped pills, had 70 pounds of marijuana on plane before death
As the search began, the 21-year-old began convulsing and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Officials say the “Lucid Dreams” rapper suffered a cardiac arrest. Though an autopsy was conducted Dec. 9, the official cause of death will not be clear until toxicology, cardiac pathology and neuropathology tests are conducted.
As previously reported, Ally Lotti, Higgins’ girlfriend, told officials responding Sunday that her boyfriend “takes Percocet and has a drug problem.” Percocet contains acetaminophen and oxycodone, an opioid. When he suffered the medical emergency, an agent administered two doses of Narcan, an emergency treatment when opioid overdose is suspected, but the efforts were unsuccessful, according to the Chicago Tribune.
As a result of the search Sunday morning, 70 pounds of marijuana was confiscated and several illegal guns.
Juice WRLD’s associates Harry Dean, 27, of Chicago, and Christopher Long, 36, who is from California, were charged with misdemeanor gun counts in regards after the search. They have been released and are due in court next month.
The Chicago rapper's star was just beginning to rise prior to his death. He was named top new artist at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards in May. He collaborated with rappers including Future and Nicki Minaj. In just one day after his death, Juice WRLD's streams climbed nearly 500%, according to Variety. His music was streamed more than 38 million times Sunday, according to Buzz Angle Music.
He was slated to perform at Sunday’s Rolling Loud festival, and now the music festival has plans for a tribute to the rapper.
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