Lil Tony of Rich Forever Music Arrested and Charged with Murder of 9-Year-Old Boy

Lil Tony was being held in custody for a non-related domestic violence case when he was arrested for the fatal shooting of 9-year-old Z'Yon Person. He faces multiple charges.

24-year-old Antonio Davenport, musically known as rapper Lil Tony has been arrested for murder in connection to the fatal shooting of 9-year-old Z’Yon Person. 

Davenport was being held in custody at Durham County Jail for a non-related domestic violence offense when he was charged with first-degree murder, according to a statement released by the Durham County Sherriff's Office. 

In 2016, he was convicted of "second-degree burglary, felony larceny, and misdemeanor speeding to elude arrest"...

Person was riding an SUV with his aunt, sister, and three cousins to get snow cones on August 18 when Davenport opened fire at their vehicle resulting in Person’s death after he was shot in the arm. An 8-year-old inside the vehicle was also hurt.

"THEY'RE GOING TO PAY"

Person’s aunt, Danyell Ragland told ABC 11 that she first heard a horn and when she was about to turn, she heard gunshots. “I didn't know they were shooting at me,” she said. 

"They're going to pay. I promise," she added. “They're going to rot in hell for what they did."

According to Durham Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton, the death of Person and two other children last month due to gunfire raises an important issue on gun violence  in Durham.

DAVENPORT'S LIST OF CHARGES

Apart from first-degree murder, Davenport was also charged with “conspiracy to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious bodily injury, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied property causing serious injury and three counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle/residence,” as detailed by ABC 11.

No bond was set for the rapper. A public defender will be assigned to his case upon his return in court on November 21. 

MORE ON DAVENPORT

Davenport is one of Rich Kid’s rap prodigies signed under the latter’s label, Rich Forever. He is a member of the group 83 Babies. 

In 2016, he was convicted of "second-degree burglary, felony larceny, and misdemeanor speeding to elude arrest," as reported by The News & Observer. He likewise has pending charges in relation to three other incidents this year. 

It's unclear for now why Davenport shot at the vehicle Person was riding. The investigation is still ongoing. 

TURNING THE SPOTLIGHT ON GUN VIOLENCE

According to Durham Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton, the death of Person and two other children last month due to gunfire raises an important issue on gun violence in Durham. He challenges his colleagues to come up with a concrete plan to curtail the proliferation of gun violence.

Together with Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman, Middleton has taken steps to support the plan of hiring more police officers during spring's budget planning. Middleton also proposed to install a gunshot detection system in Durham.