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http://news.cincinnati.co.../1055/NEWS



Rapper T.I.: Shots meant for him

By Kimball Perry • kperry@enquirer.com • November 21, 2008




Rapper Clifford "T.I." Harris testified today that he believes the shots that killed his childhood friend and assistant and injured three others after a Cincinnati concert two years ago were meant for him.


T.I., a top-selling rapper from Atlanta, was a witness for the prosecution in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in the murder trial of Hosea Thomas, 34. He testified for 41 minutes.


Thomas, of North College Hill, is charged with murder, felonious assault and other charges stemming from the May 2006 incident. Three members of T.I.'s entourage were injured and a fourth, Philant Johnson, 26, died after being shot in the head during a running gun battle.

T.I. took the stand wearing jeans, an untucked dress shirt and sports coat. He was accompanied into the courtroom by one of his security guards and two investigators from the Hamilton County prosecutor's office.

Several Hamilton County Sheriff's deputies also were in the courtroom providing security.

The shooting occurred while T.I. was in Cincinnati for a concert in May, 2006. He and his group were at Roselawn's Club Ritz after a concert at Bogart's when a fight broke out.

When people left the club, T.I.'s two vans were chased by a green Jeep Cherokee and the shooting took place.

T.I. said when he heard the bullets hitting the van he and his crew were riding he shots were intended for him.

“All of those rounds were fired for me in my opinion,” TI, whose real name is Clifford Harris, testified today.

The rapper was in Cincinnati to give his version of the shooting that resulted in the death of Johnson, his assistant and best friend.

After the Bogart's concert, the rapper and his entourage went to Roselawn’s Club Ritz for a party.

While inside, someone tried to get into the area where the rapper was and a fight broke out.

That’s when, prosecutors say, Hosea Thomas was hit in the head with a liquor bottle and was so mad that he and his brother chased TI’s two vans and fired into them, killing Johnson and wounding three others.

T.I. testified he and his group, including “a couple of young ladies who shall remain nameless,” got into the van to leave the club as the fight was going on. They were on Seymour Avenue when the rapper saw headlights pulling up next to the vans.

“Before I know it, shots rang out,” Harris said. “At that time, we’re calling everybody’s name out to see if everybody was all right.”

Johnson, sitting directly in front of the rapper, didn’t answer. He’d been shot in the head and was dying.

“(He was) lifeless. I saw blood running down his face. His shirt was wet,” the rapper testified. “He had an entry wound in the temple, left temple.”

Police say Hosea Thomas, on trail for murder and felonious assault, was in the passenger seat of a Jeep Cherokee and fired the shots at the vans as his brother, Padron Thomas, drove.

Harris admitted he was a two-time convicted felon during his testimony. He was convicted of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and then being a felon in possession of firearms. He has yet to serve his prison sentence for the gun conviction.

The rapper testified that his family knew Johnson’s family since both men were infants. Harris and Johnson were born the same year, grew up together and Johnson served as the rapper’s assistant.

“He would make sure all my cars are detailed the way I like them. He would take care of my jewelry,” the rapper said.

Prosecutors say Padron Thomas will be the star witness in the case because he will testify that his brother fired the shots that night.

In exchange for his testimony, prosecutors have promised to give Padron Thomas a deal that will allow him to plead guilty to a lesser charge and get a sentence that runs at the same time as a federal gun sentence he now is serving.

The rapper, in one line of questioning, made it clear what he thought of Club Ritz.
He was asked if anyone that night “made it rain” - threw money in the air - at the club.

“You make it rain in strip clubs where beautiful women are taking their clothes off, not in … some hole in the wall,” the rapper said.

TI’s latest album, “Paper Trail,” debuted at No. 1 when it was released in September.

The trial will go in to next week.
[Edited 11/21/08 10:54am]

Is a rapper "snitching?"

funkpill said:

I don't think Jim Jones and DipSet will like this at all. Hip-Hop is the "NO SNITCHING" community.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

yup.....


witness someone killing your love one, but don't tell

I don't see it as snitching because he just testified that he believes the shots were meant for him.. I might add that the whole no snitching shit is for the birds

banks said:

agree

banks said: