Troy Ave’s Lawyer Doubles Down On Innocence, While Taxstone Prepares Defense

TROY AVE AND TAXSTONE’S LAWYERS GIVE BRIEF STATEMENTS

(AllHipHop News) Lawyers representing Troy Ave and Taxstone are preparing for a court date tomorrow (January 17th), which could change the directions of both men’s’ lives.

The pair were involved in an altercation backstage at Irving Plaza on May 25th. During the fight, someone pulled a gun and open fired, leaving Troy Ave and three other people wounded.

The rapper’s bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter was shot and killed in the melee. Shocking footage from videotaped surveillance inside of Irving Plaza captured the shooting on tape, leading many to believe Troy Ave, born Ronald Collins, would be charged with murder.

Later in May, Troy Ave was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges, leading many to speculate that police believed McPhatter’s murderer was still on the loose.

Troy Ave is being represented by Scott Leemon, who has represented artists like 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, and most recently Freddie Gibbs.

Even though the police have “only” hit Taxstone with weapons possession violations so far, Scott Leemon said the impending charges only add credibility to Troy’s narrative – that he was a victim who defended his life and his friends.

“As I told you day one. Troy was a victim,” Scott Leemon told AllHipHop.com. “He was shot by someone else and his friend and bodyguard died a hero.”

Taxstone, on the other hand, has retained the services of Kenneth J. Montgomery, who has represented Bobby Shmurda, various members of GS9 and Rock of the Hip-Hop group Helta Skeltah.

Kenneth Montgomery remained tight light-lipped, until he knows the charges against his client.

“We are looking forward to tomorrow’s arraignment and seeing what the charges are,” Kenneth Montgomery told AllHipHop.com, referencing his client’s arraignment tomorrow.

Police are also still investigating an incident on Christmas day (December 25, 2016), in which Troy Ave was shot inside of his red Maserati as he sat parked with his girlfriend in Brooklyn.