Gang Violence Sparked by Lil Baby Music Video Shoot Incident Led to Teen Deaths, Police Say

Atlanta police are linking the shooting deaths of two teenagers to a Lil Baby music video shoot.

On Wednesday afternoon, leaders from the Atlanta Police Department held a news conference to announce the arrests of seven individuals responsible for the deaths of two 13-year-old boys, Jakody Davis and Lamon Freeman, per Channel 2 Action News.

The boys were killed in July 2024 while celebrating Freeman’s birthday.

Without naming Lil Baby, 30, police said during the press conference their deaths were part of a violent chain of events that began with a shooting at a music video shoot last May.

As previously reported, three men were injured in a shooting while Lil Baby filmed a music video in Atlanta that month.

Channel 2 Action News reported that they obtained arrest warrants confirming the rapper mentioned by police was Lil Baby, whose legal name is Dominique Jones.

Three men were shot while Jones’ music video was being filmed in northwest Atlanta in May 2024. According to WSBTV, the shooting of the teens stemmed from two rival gangs that were targeting one another as a result of the shooting that happened as the music video was taking place.

“Lamont Friedman was allowed to be a 13-year-old for 27 minutes before gang violence ultimately took his life. Gang violence that was orchestrated by adults,” said Major Ralph Woolfolk during Wednesday’s press conference around the 10-minute mark of the video below.

“Cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper that decided to go over into a rival gang stronghold and shoot a music video in a place that he knew he should not have been. In the subsequent days, we saw homicides and shootings and, ultimately, the deaths of two children as a result of his cowardly actions and you know who you are.”

“And I tell you that this team will work relentlessly to hold you and the persons that you are affiliated with responsible for those actions,” he added.

Major Woolfolk also said that a high-ranking member of the opposing gang ordered a hit from inside a Georgia prison using a contraband cellphone. However, that individual was not identified.

A $50,000 reward is being offered for more information in relation to the case.