ATLANTA — Rising rapper King Von was one of three people fatally shot outside an Atlanta nightclub early Friday, authorities said. He was 26.
Three other people were wounded and two people have been detained, the Atlanta Police Department told People.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation told WSB-TV that the rapper, whose real name is Dayvon Daquan Bennett, was with a group of men at the Monaco Hookah Lounge. Two men approached the group in the parking lot and began arguing at around 3:20 a.m., the television station reported. The argument escalated into gunfire.
“It is our understanding Dayvon Bennett, a k a King Von, was shot and killed during this morning’s shooting,” the Atlanta Police Department said in a statement. “Additionally, Mr. Bennett was not located at the scene, but arrived at a hospital shortly after the shooting, via private vehicle. The investigation into this incident remains open and very active.”
Police said the two detainees are expected to face charges, People reported.
King Von last shared on Instagram that he would be performing at Opium nightclub in Atlanta on Thursday.
King Von, a Chicago native, had several hits, including “Crazy Story 2.0” featuring Lil Durk, People reported. The song peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart.
The rapper’s first mixtape, “Grandson, Vol 1,” was released in September 2019, according to Pitchfork. In March, Bennett released his second mixtape, “Levon James,” which reached No 81 on Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Albums chart, the magazine reported.
Fellow musicians and fans shared their condolences on social media.
“Wow. This year was so tough. RIP Von. God bless him and his family,” Chance the Rapper tweeted. “I can’t believe it.”
“King Von was one of the best storytellers to come along in hip-hop in years,” writer Grant Rindner tweeted. “The music he was making was vital and urgent and I was so excited to see where his career was going. R.I.P. to a truly important young artist.”