Murder of Philadelphia rapper Phat Geez caught on surveillance video
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The shooting that killed Philadelphia rapper Phat Geez over the weekend was caught on surveillance video that shows a car the killer used.
Police are hoping the video will help them find the person or people responsible for the shooting.
The Ring camera surveillance video obtained by CBS News Philadelphia shows Geez, whose real name is Derrick Gant, exit a home and walk up to a parked car on the 1200 block of North Taney Street in Brewerytown.
Gant appears to be speaking to someone inside the car before getting into an argument with them. Seconds later, he was shot.
Hundreds of people showed up to The Met Philadelphia for Gant's funeral services Wednesday morning.
The viewing was set to end around 11:30 a.m. but continued longer due to the large crowd.
A family friend said that shows how much Phat Geez was loved in the city. Relatives said off camera that he didn't deserve what happened to him, that he was the type of person who tried to prevent kids from making the wrong decisions.
"He was a real good dude," family friend Tony Roberts said. "Kind heart. Always giving. Nobody had a bad thing to say about him. It's tragic to lose your life like this in front of your home. It hurts. This will be felt for years. Something like this you just don't get over."
Gant's family members said he had recently released a song called "Nogunzone" and hoped to use his music to reduce gun violence.
Philadelphia native and rapper Meek Mill also mourned Gant in a post on X, writing "Rip phat geez…..Philly is a terrible place for black people to live… you see too much death!!!! Smh."
Gant, who practiced Islam, was killed during the holy month of Ramadan. His uncle Marcus Fox pointed that out in a recent interview.
"Justice will be served. This is our holiest month of Ramadan," Fox said. "He was Muslim, so we know he is in paradise, but when it comes down to it, we still are left here in grief, in shock and in disbelief."
Police have not identified any suspects in the shooting and are asking for anyone with information to come forward.