L.A. Rapper Half Ounce Shot Dead While On The Phone w/ His Pregnant Wife, Killing Marks Third Rapper Fatally Shot In Los Angeles In Less Than A Month

L.A. Rapper Half Ounce Shot Dead While On The Phone w/ His Pregnant Wife, Killing Marks Third Rapper Fatally Shot In Los Angeles In Less Than A Month

L.A. rapper Half Ounce, real name Latauriisha O’Brien, was shot dead while walking down the street in Los Angeles. Known for his songs including, “About It,” “Tha Hard Way” and “Elevate,” Half Ounce, 36, was reportedly on the phone with his pregnant wife at the time of the incident. Half Ounce was also allegedly with a friend during the fatal shooting, however, it’s reported that the individual took off once gunshots were fired.

A Los Angeles Police Department news release confirmed the details of Monday night’s (Oct. 4) shooting.  According to the LAPD:

“[The] Olympic division received numerous radio calls of shots fired, with a man screaming, in the 700 block of South New Hampshire Avenue.”

According to reports, when police arrived at the scene in Koreatown, they found a man with gunshot wounds in front of an apartment building. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The suspect is still at large after fleeing in a dark-colored SUV. He’s been described as a Black male wearing dark clothing.

Half Ounce is reportedly the third rapper to be gunned down in L.A. County in less than a month. On Sept. 12, thirty-year-old Rakim Allen, better known as PnB Rock, was shot dead during a robbery attempt at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles.

PnB Rock

Then, on September 24, Compton rapper Kee Riche$, real name Kian Nellum, was fatally shot along with 29-year-old Robert Leflore Jr.

Rapper Kee Riche$

While the shootings appear to be unrelated, the LAPD said they’ve seen an increase in follow-home robberies, especially those targeting celebrities. In addition, LAPD sources have since shared that despite an arrest being made, they believe PnB Rock’s murder was premeditated, shifting the focus of his murder investigation to his past relations. 

In response, L.A. prodigies Roddy Rich and Ice-T have condemned violence in the city and the recent killings of young rappers.

Half Ounce had just released an album in May, “Gang Bangin,” and had a new single lined up for release on October 14 called “Drop The Ball.” The Inglewood native is survived by an 8-year-old daughter, a 2-year-old son, and a 9-month-old son. 

Do you think Half Ounce’s murder was premeditated? Tell us in the comments below.

[VIA]