The Hip-Hop community, fans and family are mourning the loss of upcoming young rapper Melvin ‘Lil Phat’ Vernell III, who was killed in a shooting outside an Atlanta hospital.
The rising young rapper, who hailed from Baton Rouge, La., was only 19 years old.
Lil Phat was part of Trill Entertainment, and appeared on Lil’ Webbie’s hit single “Independent” in 2008. The rapper was fatally shot outside Northside Hospital in the northern suburb of Atlanta’s Sandy Springs in Fulton County, Georgia.
Shortly after the shooting, the hospital went into lockdown.
At least two people were seen running from the crime scene on the parking deck of the hospital by witnesses.
Police are still looking for the assailants involved in the shooting, which occurred just after 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Trill Entertainment’s Lil Webbie has responded to the loss of his label mate tweeting “YOU STUPID B**CHES THINK DEATH A JOKE UNTIL YOU LOSE SOMEBODY YOU LOVE!” followed by “..i know my trill fam ni**as, they gone ride for me.”
Meanwhile, condolences have came from many others all over Facebook and Twitter including fans, friends and family and the hip hop community including Young Money president Mack Maine, and members of the Memphis hip hop community such rapper Zed Zilla of CMG, and beyond.
“i know my trill fam ni**as, they gone ride for me” #RIPLilPhat #Trill4Life
— Webbie(@OfficialWebbie) June 8, 2012
R.I.P. Lil Phat
— Mack Maine (@mackmaine) June 8, 2012
Dam… RIP 2 da homie Lil Phat from Trill ENT!!!
— ZEDZILLA (@ZEDZILLA1) June 8, 2012
RT @BUNKIN_VIPTEE: #ripPHAT Bruh I had just seen dude a few dayz ago
— No Soda (@NoSoda901) June 8, 2012
Recommended Video
Memphis Rap Unreleased Video Footage: GNerd, DPKOM & Ryan Buckin, Jookin to Yo Gotti's "Harder"04:57
Memphis Rap [Classics] Koopsta Knicca Rapping Acapella
8Ball Shouts Out MemphisRap.com00:12
Rapper La Chat Hood Homegirl interview