His lifeless body was found inside a vehicle near the Northside Hospital, Atlanta where he was later pronounced dead.
- June 10, 2012
AceShowbiz -
Bullets took the life of an Atlanta rapper Lil Phat who was best known for his appearance on the 2008 hit "Independent" by Webbie and Lil Boosie. He was gunned down in the parking lot of a Georgia hospital on late Thursday, June 7.
The 19-year-old rapper, whose real name is Melvin Vernell III, was visiting a patient at the Northside Hospital in Sandy Springs north of Atlanta. According to witnesses, at around 6:40 P.M. two black men approached Lil Phat inside a vehicle, put bullets in him and took off. One of the gunmen was short and wearing red while the other was tall and wearing black.
Hospital staff admitted to hearing gunshots. State Sen. Charlie Bethel happened to be at the hospital at the time. "As we arrived, there was a disturbance in the parking lot," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Another family said that as they were beginning to leave, they heard shots and were hurried back into the hospital."
Police are still investigating the motive and hunting the two black males.
Meanwhile, condolences are pouring from Lil Phat's celebrity friends. "RIP TO MY LIL BROTHER PHAT! LIFE SO F**KED UP! TRILL4LIFE," Webbie tweeted. Bobby V wrote, "i know my trill fam niggas, they gone ride for me" #RIPLilPhat #Trill4Life” Rip 2 d homey Lil phatt life is short".
