Police ID man shot and killed outside French Montana’s tour bus
Police have identified the man killed during a double shooting early this morning outside rapper French Montana’s tour bus, which was parked at the Holiday Inn at 100 South Columbus Boulevard following a Philadelphia performance. But authorities are still trying to figure out what happened and who was involved in the chaotic drive by shootout.
Investigators said Jowann King, 26, of Flushing, N.Y. was fatally shot in the chest shortly after midnight.
A 28-year-old man, also from New York, was shot in the shoulder. He was transported by private vehicle to an area hospital, where he was treated and released. Police said the car that brought him in was riddled with bullets.
Yellow tape
“The investigation reveals the rapper was doing a performance at the TLA Club at 4th and South streets,” Capt. James Clark of the Homicide Unit said today. “Once the performance was over, the rapper and his entourage got back into his tour bus and they started to the afterparty inside of the Holiday Inn on Delaware Avenue.”
He said several cars filled with fans and friends followed the entourage, resulting in a crowd of several hundred people gathering outside the hotel.
“As members of the entourage were getting off of the bus, a black four-door sedan with tinted windows drove up the side of the tour bus, the passenger window came down and several shots were fired from this vehicle, striking both of the individuals and killing one,” Clark said.
Due to the volume of people outside the hotel and the chaotic nature of the crime, investigators are still trying to figure out exactly what happened and why. “We don’t know who was targeted – we have no idea,” Clark said. “The investigation is still very much ongoing.”
Pop that
At least two people in the crowd allegedly fired back at the sedan as it sped away. They were still being questioned at police headquarters this afternoon. Clark said investigators have not yet decided whether they will be charged with any crimes.
He couldn’t say whether they were members of French Montana’s entourage. “We had several people that were directly associated, as far as entourage, we had a lot of friends and family with them and a lot of fans, so we’re still trying to sort all of that out,” he said.
Clark said detectives are also still trying to determine any association those two people may have with the shooter, as well as the nature of victim Jowann King’s relationship with the rapper. “We don’t believe he was a direct entourage of the individual,” he said. “He may have been a follower of or friend of – we’re still trying to sort all that out.”
About that life
Those inside the tour bus – including Philly phenom Meek Mill, according to Clark – weren’t initially aware of the chaos breaking out around them. “French Montana, we do know, during the shooting was still on the tour bus,” Clark said. “He didn’t even know that this was happening until somebody from his entourage told him.”
He said Montana, who was as of this afternoon still being questioned by detectives, is cooperating. “He is very cooperative,” Clark said. “He is talking to detectives, his entourage is talking to detectives. Everyone is upstairs right now and are being very cooperative.”
Police are thankful the shooting didn’t result in more casualties. “As sad as it is that one person was killed and one was injured, it could have been a lot more tragic,” Clark said. “We’ve got several hundred people out there – innocent bystanders – and it could have been even more tragic than it was.”
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No arrests have yet been made. Anyone with information is asked to call 911, to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or 3335, or to submit an anonymous tip by dialing 215-686-TIPS (8477), texting PPD TIP (773847), emailing tips@phillypolice.com or by filling out this online form.
