By Shane Farias / FM Hip Hop
Zerail Dijon Rivera, a.k.a. Indian Red Boy, was fatally shot last week while filming an update on Instagram Live. According to police, he took three shots to the head, and they can be heard at the end of the leaked (and recently deleted) video. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. last Thursday in the Hawthorne district of Los Angeles.
“It appears to have been a walk-up shooting, and he appears to have been targeted,” said Lt. Ti Goetz of the Hawthorne Police Department. Goetz also speculates that because of some suggestive photos taken of the rapper, he “appears to be a gang member.”
Among the several rumors swirling about the execution-style tragedy, the most popular links Rivera to late LA rapper Nipsey Hussle. Hussle’s death in March of 2019 is similar in fashion and, shortly after his death, Red Boy allegedly disrespected and vandalized a mural dedicated to the late emcee. This could quite possibly be enough reason for a motive.
While some deny the possible correlation between the two, numbers of similar gun-related deaths involving rappers suggest otherwise. Rivera is the newest addition to a recent surge in young rap artists’ untimely deaths. And as for the aforementioned suggestive photos of Rivera, a clear portrayal of gang signs have some speculating that the event was gang related.
Whatever the motive, one can only hope that the number of similar instances will deteriorate. The video is no longer available, however, these reactions to it say more than enough.
https://twitter.com/Phractions0606/status/1414118439069921282
The assailant is still at large following this tragic event. Zerail Dijon Rivera, may you rest in peace.
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