Police are seeking
to question G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo in connection with a shooting on a Busta
Rhymes video set that left one man dead with a gunshot wound to the back.
While he is not
an official suspect, police are seeking to question Yayo about a heated argument
that took place on the set of the video, which was being filmed on location
in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, New York.
Israel Ramirez,
29, was gunned down shortly after midnight on Sunday (Feb. 5), about a half-hour
after a group of men were ordered to leave the building after an argument on
the set.
He
was rushed to Woodhull Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m. Ramirez
was in charge of guarding Busta Rhymes’ cache of jewelry, which was being used
in the video.
Police are investigating
what rappers’ entourages were present and if any of the men were connected to
the shooting.
Rhymes was shooting
a video for his latest single "Touch It (Remix)". The video’s cameo
appearance list included G-Unit members 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks, DMX, Mary J.
Blige, Missy Elliott and other high profile celebrities.
Yayo and Rhymes
are labelmates on Interscope Records, home to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment
and 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records imprint.
Contradicting earlier
reports, Rhymes, Ramirez and others were in front the studio when shots were
fired, sending people running for their lives.
The make of the
gun used in the shooting has not been confirmed: reports have cited the shots
came from an AK47, while others have identified the weapon as a 9mm or a .45.
Eight spent shells were also recovered.
Police are scanning
video footage to see of the murdered has been captured on tape but have yet
to find a suspect or a motive in the shooting.
According to the
New York Post, police are having difficulties contacting Busta Rhymes
and at least 50 other people that believe were at the scene of the shooting.