Atlanta Rapper Allegedly Tried to Kill Lil' Wayne in Cobb County

An Atlanta-based rap artist who was arrested in Sandy Springs on Wednesday for allegedly threatening a security guard was involved in the plot to kill rap star Lil’ Wayne on his tour bus in Cobb County in April, according to an indictment.

Jeffrey Lamar Willliams, 23, known as Young Thug, was indicted on RICO charges along with Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Jimmy Winfrey for conspiracy to kill Dwayne Carter, better known to the world as Lil’ Wayne. According to the June indictment filed in Cobb County court, Lil’ Wayne and Birdman were in a business dispute over Lil’ Wayne’s contract with Cash Money Records.

WSB-TV reports that Lil’ Wayne dropped the dispute, but the personal animosity between the two men lingered. The indictment claims that Young Thug supported Birdman in the dispute, and later threatened Lil’ Wayne’s life as a result of the impasse.

On April 26, Winfrey allegedly drove a Chevrolet Camaro alongside two of Lil’ Wayne’s tour buses as they drove along I-285 in Cobb County. The occupants of the Camaro opened fire on the buses with .40 caliber and 9mm handguns, WSB-TV reports. The shooting caused $20,000 worth of damage but no injuries, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said. It is not known if the rapper was aboard either bus when the attack occurred.

Police said in an arrest warrant that they believe Winfrey fired on the tour buses to increase his standing in the Bloods gang; the warrant adds that Winfrey has long been an associate of several Bloods members and claims that Lil’ Wayne is a “rival rap artist.” Young Thug, Birdman, and Lil’ Wayne are also Bloods members, the indictment claims.

Winfrey was arrested on May 21 and faces charges including aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, criminal damage, possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal gang activity. Young Thug and Birdman have yet to face charges for the incident.