Rapper Young Scooter dies on his 39th birthday in freak accident while fleeing Atlanta police
Rapper Young Scooter, whose real name was Kenneth Edward Bailey, has tragically died at the age of 39 following a freak accident while fleeing police in Atlanta.
According to authorities, the incident occurred on Friday, March 28, 2025, during a confrontation with police officers at a home in southeast Atlanta.
Young Scooter was rushed to Grady Marcus Trauma Center after injuring his leg while jumping over a fence in an attempt to escape. He was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Officers responded to the scene after receiving reports of shots fired and a woman being dragged back inside a home as she tried to flee. Atlanta Police Department Lt. Andrew Smith confirmed that when officers arrived, they were met with resistance.
A man opened the door but quickly slammed it shut, while two men fled from the rear of the house upon seeing police establish a perimeter.
'One male returned back into the house. The other male jumped two fences as he was fleeing,' Lt. Smith explained during a press conference on Friday. 'When officers located him on the other side of the fence, he appeared to have suffered an injury to his leg.'
Contrary to initial reports, Lt. Smith clarified that Young Scooter was not fatally shot by officers. 'Just to be very clear, the injury that was sustained was not via the officers on scene. It was when the male was fleeing,' Smith stated.
Bailey, who rose to fame in the early 2010s, was known for hits like 'Colombia' and his collaborations with artists like Future, Young Thug, and Juice WRLD. His cause of death is still under investigation by the Atlanta Medical Examiner's Office.
Born in South Carolina, Bailey moved to Atlanta with his family at the age of 9. He gained attention in 2012 with his breakthrough regional hit 'Colombia' and signed with Future's Freebandz label shortly after.
The rapper continued to make waves with tracks like 'DI$Function' and 'Jet Lag' with Future and Juice WRLD, earning recognition on Billboard charts.
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