Troy Ave took the stand at Taxstone’s murder trial for the killing of his bodyguard, Ronald “Banga” McPhatter, on Monday. Troy reportedly told the jury he and McPhatter were in the VIP section of Irving Plaza when they ran into Taxstone, with whom they had a longstanding feud. He explained that tensions were high as they introduced themselves.
“Banga turns around to me and says, ‘I’m gonna rock him,’ which means, ‘I’m gonna hit him,’” Troy Ave testified. “And then I wink at him—I tell him, ‘Do your thing.’” From there, Troy explained that Tax pulled out a gun and shot McPhatter. Troy then wrestled for the gun with Tax, which resulted in him being shot in the legs.
Troy Ave Performing In 2015
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17: Troy Ave performs onstage as Coors Light Soundtrack reFRESH brings DJ Mustard, Fabolous and special guests To NYC at Stage 48 on November 17, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Coors Light)
“When the shot goes off I see the light from the spark and I hear the shot,” he testified. “This is all happening fast. I get up and start fighting Taxstone, trying to take him, grab the gun, and another shot goes off. I put my leg up to kind of block the shot from hitting me in the face or chest. I got up. I’d rather die fighting. People die from leg shots. I’d rather die fighting than laying on the ground. I got up immediately.”
Before taking the stand, Troy shared a photo of Jay-Z testifying in a 2021 lawsuit on Instagram. He captioned the picture: “To all my real ones that been riding with & for Me, today is the day I finally get to clear my name. It’s been almost 7 years since I lost one of my closest friends #RIPBANGA, 7 years of a narrative about it being my fault, 7 years of my character being assassinated all the while Trying to defend myself without saying much! I took it all on the chin, never complained about the stress even tho I felt it. Never complained about the pain even tho it hurt! Never shed a tear even tho my heart was crying! At my weakest points I drew strength from GOD! drew strength from my Children & drew strength from Yall but today.”
The past few weeks have brought forward plenty of interesting information. Among the headlines, we’ve seen Drake narrowly escaping a deposition as well as defense lawyers attempting to use the late rapper’s alleged cheating against him posthumously. The latter was denied last week, and during recent sessions, the topics of conversation have become more serious.
On Tuesday (February 14), Scott Barbieux gave his testimony. The young man is a fan of XXXTENTACION, and he and his ex-girlfriend happened to be shopping at RIVA Motorsports on the same day as him. They were checking out bikes when the robbery and fatal shooting of the Florida native took place before their eyes. When the criminals fled the scene, Barbieux approached the artist’s body before taking a photo and posting it on Snapchat.
During court, Prosecutor Pascale Achille spoke with the witness, asking, “Do you recall taking a photograph with your phone of Mr. Onfroy after he was shot and seated in his vehicle?” He responded yes, and when pressed for an explanation as to why Barbieux explained that he “was a big fan” and “wanted to have a photo to remember that forever.”
In this handout provided by the Miami Dade County Corrections, Rapper XXXTentacion, also known as Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy poses for his mugshot after being charged with seven new felonies stemming from a 2016 domestic violence case on December 15, 2017 in Miami, Florida. The new charges are for witness tampering and harassment. (Photo by Miami Dade County Corrections via Getty Images)
Before the shooting took place, he and his girlfriend crossed paths with XXX elsewhere in the motorcycle shop. At the time he asked for a photo but was denied the opportunity. After witnessing the shooting, Barbieux says he touched the father of one’s body before taking the photo. After giving him a shake, he realized that the young performer had passed on.
Achille asked the witness if he was compensated for his Snapchat upload, to which he said, “No.” Barbieux also noted that the photo was taken down immediately so it didn’t have a chance to go viral. Read more recent updates from the courthouse here, and listen to the aforementioned testimony in the video below at the 4:48:56 mark.
A fourth defendant in the killing of XXXTentacion, Robert Allen, took the stand as a state’s witness in court on Wednesday. Allen previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is now working with the prosecution. Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome have been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery regarding X’s death. The group faces up to life in prison if convicted.
During his testimony, Allen claimed that Michael Boatwright was the one to fire the gun. He confirmed that Boatwright fired at “Triple X.” Allen also denied being hired by anyone to commit the robbery. He added that Boatwright and Newsome were hesitant to go ahead with the crime, but Williams peer-pressured them by making fun of them for being scared.
Earlier in the trial, XXXTentacion’s uncle, Leonard Kerr, detailed the day of the shooting from his perspective. Kerr was in the passenger seat of X’s car while they left RIVA Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida at the time of the shooting. Surveillance footage from the time shows Kerr fleeing as the robbery goes down.
“We get in the car to drive out. At the exit, when we pull out, we stop,” Kerr said, recalling the moment on the stand. “[XXXTentacion] looked to the left. I looked to the right. By the time [XXXTentacion] looked to the left, I see a car coming down the block and blocked the entrance. After the car pulled by the entrance, two persons jump out the side doors. One come on Jahseh side, one come on the side that I’m on. The taller one do like this, ‘You don’t come out of the fucking car.’ The other one was at Jahseh’s side…He was saying, ‘Give me the chain. Where’s the chain?’”
As for the three remaining defendants’ defense, their lawyers recently claimed that Drake may have actually been involved in the 2018 slaying. They explained that investigators never looked into X’s previous feud with Drake prior to his death. X once tweeted, “If anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi,” but later claimed to have been hacked.
Just when we thought the Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion trial couldn’t come with any more curve balls, we’ve been hit with another. Following reports that the Houston native’s former bodyguard, Justin Edison, is missing, nudes allegedly believed to be his have leaked online, causing a major stir on Twitter.
The “Hot Girl Summer” hitmaker’s ex-security was due to testify in court last Friday (December 16). However, he inexplicably failed to show up at the courthouse last week. Prior to that, he was expected to say that the Canadian apologized to him for shooting his client.
Megan Thee Stallion performs at the Other stage during day four of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 25, 2022 in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
It’s worth noting that Edison wasn’t actually present at the time of the incident, though he did vehemently vow to protect Thee Stallion afterward. Presently, the reason for his absence remains unknown, though some blogs did speculate that he was in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup.
A source previously told Media Take Out that the bodyguard was protecting an anonymous VIP at the games, and even provided Instagram photos believed to be him. However, the account holder who shared the snapshots shut down the gossip, telling people that the man in the photograph is not the one they were looking for.
Ultimately, the trial wrapped up its closing statements earlier this week without hearing Edison’s testimony. Additionally, Tory Lanez never took the stand, though both Megan Thee Stallion and Kelsey Harris did.
Good morning from L.A. courthouse where jurors are deliberating Tory Lanez’s fate in Megan Thee Stallion assault case
Jurors asked for better definitions of “willfully” & “on purpose” late Thurs after hearing readback of Sean Kelly’s testimony
Unfortunately, the former athlete isn’t completely off the hook. As his name was circulating for his apparent disappearance, someone decided it was the perfect time to leak alleged nudes belonging to him.
At this time, it hasn’t been officially confirmed whether it’s Edison in the viral photos. However, various blogs have already attributed them to him, causing plenty of unwanted attention to head his way.
On Twitter, the discourse regarding the situation has been coming in nonstop. “Tattoos don’t match. When compared to his most recent and old pictures. First he went missing and now someone is trying to claim this is his nudes? What’s really going on with this case and behind the scenes???” one user pondered.
“The fact that Justin Edison’s nudes leaked and y’all are laughing at his size rather than addressing the obvious extortion attempt and revenge porn is disgusting,” another pointed out.
Other responses came from those who were simply eager to see the nudes for themselves.
Check out more Twitter reactions below. Afterward, read our latest update on the Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez trial here.
Where are these Justin Edison nudes asking for a friend
Tattoos don’t match. When compared to his most recent and old pictures. First he went missing and now someone is trying to claim this is his nudes? What’s really going on with this case and behind the scenes???
The fact that justin edison’s nudes leaked and ya’ll are laughing at his size rather than addressing the obvious extortion attempt and revenge porn is disgusting!
Actually, this happened BEFORE he went “missing”. This is why he most likely did not show up. The man is embarrassed. Also, it happened while he was on Muslim land and he’s a practicing Muslim himself; which means he could also be dead. https://t.co/IWLj1cSE1F
As we head into week two of Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez’s trial, more interesting testimony is coming out on the stand. Previously we heard from the shooting victim herself, as well as her ex-best friend, Kelsey Harris. Now, other figures such as her former stylist, EJ King, have been sharing the details that they recall from that fateful night.
Though he wasn’t at the crime scene when the rap diva was injured by gunfire, the fashion expert did attend a party at Kylie Jenner’s house with his client and her friend. On the stand, King recalled encouraging the Houston native to leave the party earlier in the evening, also noting that she was drinking a considerable amount.
Megan Thee Stallion whose legal name is Megan Pete makes her way from the Hall of Justice to the courthouse to testify in the trial of Rapper Tory Lanez for allegedly shooting her on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
He spoke to the courthouse on Monday (December 19). At the time, the defence began with questions about how he, Megan, and Kelsey protect themselves when security isn’t around. “We’d have tasers, mace,” he shared. When asked specifically about other weapons or a handgun, he responded, “Not that I recall.”
Next, King heard a question regarding Thee Stallion or Harris with something resembling a firearm in their possession. “Possibly… but it’s not my business,” he asserted.
When speaking specifically about the get-together at Jenner’s residence, he made it known that he and his friends stayed later than the other guests. “I remember Corey [Gamble] insinuated to wrap up the party,” the creative director stated. This was allegedly before Tory Lanez’s arrival around 8 or 9 PM.
According to King’s testimony, he encouraged the “Hot Girl Summer” hitmaker to leave. “I don’t like feeling like the last Black [people] in somebody’s house,” he added. Seeing as he doesn’t drink, he “was already on alert” after witnessing Megan make a “slight comment” to the evening’s host.
While Harris is said to have told Jenner, “You’re fun, you’re a vibe,” the 27-year-old reportedly chimed in, “I’m really glad because I thought you were a lame.”
During cross-examination, DDA Alexander Bott described the “Bussin Back” artist as a relatively happy drunk. “Kelsey is just a little Tazmanian devil,” King described. “But she has a lot of bark, so she can cuss you out.” As for “bite,” he says he’s never seen Harris get aggressive.
Upon Lanez’s arrival, both Jenner and Thee Stallion were allegedly happy to see him. More drinking ensued, although the Traumazine creator’s “energy shifted from fun Megan to irritated Megan.” Additionally, her former stylist noted that she can become “aggressive” once faded past a certain point.
“I think you said Megan’s a different person when she’s drunk?” the defence asked. “Yes, when she’s past the faded point,” King responded. “Was she past the faded point that day?” they pressed. “Yes,” he concluded.
While that testimony was certainly interesting, the court is still waiting to hear from Thee Stallion’s former bodyguard, Justin Edison.
This past weekend, reports surfaced claiming that he’s missing. He was due to take the stand on Friday (December 16), however, internet sleuths thought they tracked him down at the FIFA World Cup instead.
Those reports have since been denied, and last we heard, the Los Angeles County District Attorney has sent a team out to search for him.
Yesterday morning, they made a visit to a LA home where they hoped to find him and get some availability for his testimony. Unfortunately, his location remains unknown at this time but he’s not technically a “missing” person.
Megan’s attorney, Alex Spiro, told TMZ Live that they last heard from Edison on Thursday (December 15) night. It was fully expected he would be in court the next day to provide testimony he thinks could’ve been “devastating.”
The lawyer is under the impression that witness intimidation is going on, noting that prosecutors have launched an investigation. On that same topic, the DA’s office simply said, “No comment.”
Check back in later for more updates on Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion’s trial.
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