Rapper Lor Scoota calls for ‘Peace in the Streets’ at rally, gunned down an hour later
Baltimore rapper Tyriece Travon Watson, who went by the stage name Lor Scoota, was fatally shot in broad daylight at a busy intersection in Friday, police said. The shooting came just after Lor Scoota called for “peace in the streets” at a charity basketball game in Baltimore.
Lor Scoota was driving in his car when an unknown black male wearing a white bandana stepped into the street and opened fire, Baltimore police said.
Watson, 23, was brought to a local hospital but died from his injuries.
The shooter appeared to be targeting Watson, Baltimore police spokesman T.J. Smith said. But no motive has been identified, and police have not named any suspects.
photo JRLibby
Police are examining video related to the shooting and are asking for anyone with any knowledge of the situation to come forward.
“We are making some progress but not as much progress as we would like [in finding a suspect],” Smith said, asking the public to view Watson’s murder as a wake-up call to those seeking retribution, especially gang members.
“The eerie irony that should just absolutely tick all of us off, collectively, is that he was leaving a peace rally that was held at a local university,” Smith said. “This revolving door of death is something that’s despicable, and its leaving too many mothers to bury their children.”
“We need this to be a rallying cry for those out there who want to seek retribution for lil Scoota’s death,” he added.
Former Baltimore Raven Torrey Smith, who now plays for the San Francisco 49ers, lamented the fact that Watson was actively trying to prevent violence when he was shot and killed.
“One that was focused in stopping the violence smh crazy world man…prayers up,” he said on Twitter.
Lor Scoota was one of the Baltimore’s most beloved hometown rappers. His 2014 song “Bird Flu” inspired dozens of YouTube videos of Baltimoreans doing the “Bird Flu dance.” When the Baltimore Orioles made it to the playoffs, Lor Scoota changed the song’s lyrics for the radio: “Talkin’ ’bout that orange and black / I got a bird on my hat / Won the Series in ’83, I think it’s time to go back.”
