San Diego Sheriff Probes Troy Ave’s Staged Shooting Video
Oh, brilliant. Another rapper decides to audition for stunt of the year on Instagram. San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has officially opened an inquiry after a video surfaced online featuring Brooklyn MC Troy Ave appearing to fend off a gunman outside a friend’s home. Authorities tell TMZ they received the clip on Wednesday, and now they’re digging into whether this was a real attempt on Troy Ave’s life or just a blockbuster-style promo.
The grainy footage shows Troy Ave stepping out of a vehicle alongside his associate, Geoff Cole, in front of Geoff’s San Diego residence. As the pair approach the porch, a masked figure creeps up from the side, prompting Troy Ave to whip out a handgun and fire multiple rounds in self-defense. Then the camera cuts off, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. Geoff posted the clip on his Instagram page Tuesday, complete with a salute to Ave for having his back, and tagged it with the song blasting through the car speakers.
The post racked up 45,000 likes almost instantly, with much of the audience hailing Troy Ave as an impromptu hero. Comments ranged from “This is why we need gun rights” to “Troy saved the day,” but not everyone was convinced. A significant portion of followers smelled something fishy, pointing out the perfectly timed soundtrack and suspicious editing. Some fans outright accused the duo of staging the shooting to promote their latest track.
Matters got spicier when Troy Ave himself chimed in on Instagram, casually dumping ice-cold denial on the entire affair. He claimed he wasn’t even in the clip, and that the whole thing was “cap” from start to finish. Sources close to the rapper confirmed to TMZ that no one was actually assaulted, no robber attempted the heist, and the rounds fired were blanks or digital effects. In short, it was a full-on production—and not exactly independent film festival material.
Despite the insider admissions, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office insists the probe is far from over. Deputies need to establish whether anyone filed a false police report or violated California Penal Code 148.5 by faking criminal activity. If they determine the standoff was an orchestrated publicity stunt, Troy Ave and Geoff Cole could face misdemeanor charges for misleading law enforcement and the public.
This isn’t the first time musicians have blurred the line between PR and police business. Social media appetite for shock content has spiked, driving some artists to concoct ever more elaborate scams. Authorities in other jurisdictions have already warned that faking crimes for clicks can carry real legal consequences. Troy Ave’s camp might think they’re playing with Hollywood effects, but San Diego doesn’t take kindly to people who waste taxpayer resources chasing make-believe villains.
Keep an eye on court filings and any official statements from the Sheriff’s Office. Will this fizz out like a dud pyrotechnic display, or will our favorite Brooklyn rapper end up in a real-life courtroom cameo? Stay tuned, because we’re not hitting pause just yet. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
