Soulja Boy Detained in L.A. After Police Discover Firearm in Traffic Stop

Jordan Collins here. I suppose you need me to spell out the latest on Soulja Boy’s run-in with the law after cops say they found a gun in his ride during a late-night traffic stop in Los Angeles. Try to keep up.
On Sunday at approximately 2:30 AM, law enforcement sources confirmed that investigators stopped a vehicle carrying Soulja Boy as a passenger when officers spotted what they describe as a concealed firearm inside the car. According to a report first published by NBC Los Angeles, the rapper was immediately taken into custody and booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm. TMZ later corroborated this timeline and added that Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, faces potential felony charges as authorities continue digging into the circumstances that led to the stop.
Details remain sketchy on what specifically triggered the traffic stop. Officials have not released the make or model of the vehicle nor do they have clarified whether any other occupants were detained. What we do know is that police paperwork lists the initial interaction as a “routine enforcement stop” that escalated when the firearm came into view. Given Soulja Boy’s prior convictions, prosecutors now have grounds to pursue a more serious charge, since state law bars anyone with felony records from possessing firearms.
Just 24 hours before the incident, Soulja Boy was on his celebrity tour, greeting fans outside his Melrose Avenue storefront. Videos shared on Instagram showed him celebrating his birthday at Poppy nightclub in L.A., seemingly oblivious to the legal storm brewing. Witnesses at the venue reported seeing the rapper dancing and taking selfies well into the night, though none captured any altercation or hint of the firearm that would later become central to the arrest.
Despite repeated requests, Soulja Boy’s public relations team has remained silent on the details. No statement has been issued to confirm or deny the nature of the weapon, its ownership, or whether Soulja Boy had any knowledge of its presence. Legal analysts suggest this silence could complicate his defense, as prosecutors will press to prove actual possession and intent.
For fans and critics alike, the case raises broader questions about celebrity accountability and the consequences of prior convictions. Similar high-profile arrests have ended careers or severely limited touring and endorsements, so this could be a career-altering moment for the rapper. California’s courts move slowly, but with a felony in play, a protracted fight in court seems inevitable.
Stay tuned for updates, because this chapter is far from over. Hope that clarified things for you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, NBC Los Angeles
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed