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Artist News Legal
Hip hop podcast host Taxstone arrested over TI show shooting
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 18 January 2017
The host of the Tax Season hip hop podcast Daryl Campbell, aka Taxstone, has been charged in relation to that fatal shooting at New York’s Irving Plaza, ahead of a performance by TI, last May.
As previously reported, one person was killed and three injured in the shooting, which took place backstage at the show. The dead man was named as Ronald McPhatter, bodyguard of rapper Troy Ave, aka Roland Collins, who was later arrested and charged with attempted murder and possession of an illegal weapon. CCTV footage shows Collins, who was also injured during the incident, entering the backstage bar and opening fire.
Initial reports alleged that Collins was targeting fellow rapper Maino, who had just left that stage, and with whom he had been feuding. However, it now seems that police believe the incident related to another of Collins’ feuds, with Campbell.
He was arrested on Monday, after several months of investigation, say prosecutors. A federal complaint states that his DNA was discovered on the murder weapon, which was found hidden in a van used to take Collins to hospital after he was shot. In particular, it says, DNA on the base of the gun’s magazine indicates that Campbell was the person who loaded it.
Neither man has actually been charged with McPhatter’s death. However, at an arraignment yesterday Assistant District Attorney Hagan Scotten repeatedly told the court that Campbell fired first, according to DNAinfo. “He had a gun in his hand and he murdered someone”, he said at one point, arguing that Campbell should not be granted bail.
Prosecutors pointed to a number of statements Campbell had made on his podcast, several mocking Collins, as indications of guilt. In particular, one comment made shortly before the shooting was held up, in which he questioned Collins’ use of bodyguards, suggesting this was a sign of weakness.
“I can protect myself as a man, so I’m not thinking about rolling with six goons”, he said on the podcast. “When I see you walking up with six dudes, bang-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba – I want to embarrass somebody, and that’s why I started bullying Troy Ave, you know what I mean?”
The prosecution’s request to deny bail was not granted, with the judge setting it at $500,000 – the same as that granted to Collins. However, Campbell will be kept under house arrest, allowed only to leave, wearing an electronic tag, to record his podcast and to meet with his legal team.
He will appear in court again on 16 Feb.
