Family, friends and fans are in mourning following the tragic death of a 17-year-old rapper.
Rylo Huncho’s career in the music industry was just beginning – he had more than 600 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Among his most notable tracks were ‘Money Getta’, ‘Bag Talk’ and ‘La la la’.
Huncho also had a substantial following on Instagram and TikTok – there was a supportive community regarding his music.
The teenager’s full name was Raleigh Freeman III, according to The Direct.
Devastatingly, it has been disclosed that the young rapper died.
He was reportedly taken to a local hospital where he was eventually pronounced dead on May 16.
It has emerged that the young artist accidentally shot himself while filming a video on social media the day prior.
The Suffolk Police Department confirmed to Newsweek that a teenager had died at 10:11pm from a ‘self-inflicted gunshot wound’, which appears to have been accidental.
Police did not identify the victim, however, family and friends have said it’s Huncho.
The video circulating on social media captures the moments leading up to the rapper’s untimely demise. He can be seen singing and dancing while holding a pistol equipped with a green laser light.
The 17-year-old appears to deactivate the weapon’s safety and point it at his head. A gunshot can then be heard and the camera drops.
A GoFundMe page was set up for Huncho’s mother by the late rapper’s cousin.
The fundraiser’s description read: “He was her only son! She was a single parent but took care of her son the best she could.
“He was her only child, she was also an only child, it was always her and her son. Anything can help! Please keep my family in your prayers, thank you so much.”
The GoFundMe is no longer accepting donations.
Monica Savage, the late teen’s mother, spoke out on the devastating incident to ABC affiliate WVEC.
“I didn’t know he had a gun. I did not know he had that,” she said (per Radar Online).
His cousin, Avis Hawkins, told WAVY.com (per Heavy): “When I got the news that he had been shot, it was like a total shock to me.
“And when I heard that he had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, that was – it’s still a hard pill to swallow.”
GIFFORDS Law Center’s Research Director Kelly Drane tells Newsweek that approximately 76 teenagers die from unintentional gunshot wounds each year. Around 40% of these are self-inflicted.
Drane said: “I think it’s really critical that parents are taking steps to make sure that their guns are not accessible to their kids.
“And so that means making sure the gun is locked and locked away in such a way that the kid can’t get access.”
