Lil Phat Dead: 19-Year-Old Rapper Shot and Killed in Atlanta

Lil Phat, a 19-year-old rapper, was shot and killed Thursday evening outside Atlanta's Northside hospital.

According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Melvin Vernell III (Lil Phat's birth name) was shot multiple times inside a parked vehicle inside the hospital's parking deck. Police spokesman Capt. Steve Rose said authorities are on the lookout for two males "seen running from the location at the time of the shooting."

There is currently no known motive for the brutal killing.

Lil Phat was signed to Trill Entertainment and contributed to Webbie and Lil' Boosie's 2008 Billboard hip-hop hit, "Independent." Check back here on The Boombox for updates on this tragic story.

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