Bobby Shmurda was one of 15 people arrested Wednesday morning as part of a long-term investigation into a series of gang-related shootings and drug trafficking in New York. The up-and-coming rapper, whose song Hot Boy was recently a US top 10 hit, is being held ahead of his Manhattan supreme court arraignment.
Kati Cornell, a spokesperson for New York’s Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, confirmed to city newspapers that Shmurda had been arrested in a sting by a violence-reduction task force in Brooklyn. Shurmda was allegedly sitting in a car outside Quad recording studios in Manhattan, where Tupac Shakur was shot non-fatally in 1994. The studio was included in a police investigation into “shooting[s] and narcotics trafficking”.
Sixteen weapons were confiscated in the raid of Shmurda’s car, according to the New York Daily News. Officers detained 14 members of Shmurda’s entourage, including G-Unit’s Sha Money XL and several members of Shmurda’s group GS9. Other suspects are also being pursued.
Shmurda, whose real name is Ackquille Pollard, was previously arrested in June and October of this year. He was indicted first on a weapon charges, for carrying a loaded Glock handgun, and later for the possession of marijuana.
Throughout this time, Shmurda was riding high on the success of Hot Boy. Thanks to a viral video, fans around the world began mimicking Shmurda’s so-called Schmoney Dance. Hot Boy reached No 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No 74 on the UK chart.
Earlier this week, hip-hop act Migos announced plans for a Shmigo Gang mixtape featuring Shmurda and other MCs.
