The filming of a music video about guns turned deadly in Chicago. According to reports by WLS, the incident occurred during the early morning hours of April 19 at Foster Park on the South Side of Chicago.
Up-and-coming rapper, Thugga, was in the park with several other aspiring rappers and friends around 2 a.m. to film the video, “Two Techs and a 50 Shot.” The title of the song refers to two Tec-9 mm guns and a Glock 9mm which holds 50 rounds.
While the crew was filming, they were ambushed by a gunman who entered from the south end of the park and another gunman who entered from the west end. The gunman began firing and shot Thugga, Damond Dawson, 23, in the head. He was pronounced dead on the scene. The others who were in the park attempted to run, but several people were hit by gunfire.
A 19-year-old woman was shot twice in the groin; a 25-year-old male was shot in the leg; an 18-year was grazed by a bullet which hit his back; and a 20-year-old male was shot 9 times in the leg. The shootings were captured on video.
Dawson, the rapper who was murdered, was not believed to be involved with a gang.
The shooting serves as another vivid reminder of the ongoing violence that continues to impact the city of Chicago. Since the beginning of the year, 168 people have been murdered in Chicago compared to 82 who were killed in 2015 by April. The city’s murder rate has soared by 72 percent in 2016. At press time, 19 people have been murdered within 19 days in April.
Clifton “Booney” McFlower, ex-gang member and founder of the Cicero Vice Lords, spoke to rolling out about the ongoing violence in the city.
“The key is economic control in our community. We have to bring the neighbor back into the hood. We have to stop being the hood and become the neighborhood. We have to care about each other. We can’t look for people to do for us what we can do for ourselves,” McFowler said.
