Feds Say They Have a Witness Who Saw Taxstone Shoot Troy Ave’s Best Friend

Taxstone has been trying to get out of jail through a bond hearing but the federal government is trying to block that. The feds sent a letter to Judge Lorna Schofield arguing that Taxstone should remain in jail because he is a flight risk and a threat to the community, reports BOSSIP.

U.S. attorney Preet Bharara wrote in a letter to the judge that Taxstone, whose real name is Daryl Campbell, has been charged with two violent felonies stemming from the Irving Plaza shooting back in May 2016 involving rapper Troy Ave. During the melee, Troy Ave was shot in the leg and his best friend, Ronald “Banga” McPhatter, was shot and killed. Other people were injured in the shooting as well.

In the missive, Bharara accuses Taxstone of bringing an illegal handgun into Irving Plaza and using it in a public venue, which caused death and mayhem. “No conditions of pretrial detention can reasonably be expected to protect the community from the defendant," she wrote.

In addition, the feds claim to have a witness who will testify that they saw the popular podcaster fatally shoot McPhatter. They also claim that on his podcast Tax Season, Taxstone allegedly threatened to shoot Troy Ave if he ever saw him.

The government also asserts that Taxstone’s gun was used to kill McPhatter, and he's already a two-time felon, so it was illegal for him to have the gun in the first place.

Taxstone's lawyer, Ken Montgomery, asked that Taxstone be released on bail as he has a job and a home where he can stay at under house confinement.

Troy Ave was charged with attempted murder and weapons charges in connection with that shooting. The Brooklyn rapper is currently out on bail and saying a lot about the shooting on his latest mixtape, NuPac.

A judge will listen to arguments on this case early next month.