St. Lunatics Rapper Tega Dies from Gunshot Wounds
Rapper Ortega Henderson, a friend of Nelly's St. Lunatics crew, died last week from complications from gun shot wounds. The 25-year-old was shot May 16 and later succumbed to his injuries at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
Although complete details revealing why Henderson was shot have yet to be released, fellow St. Lunatic's associate Kiyjuan Henderson confirmed the news. "He got mixed up in the streets, but he was so talented, we thought we could pull him out of it," said Henderson. "He was on the right path for a minute, but times are hard and he started getting around the wrong people."
Henderson, who performed under the name "Tega," was an up-and-coming rapper in St. Louis and had been featured on the same bill as rapper Nelly. He was a member of the rap group Da Camp and was working on their album prior to the shooting. The group was hoping gain more exposure through their affiliation with St. Lunatics member Murphy Lee.
Unfortunately for Henderson's his criminal past may have gotten the best of him. His legal troubles include first-degree felony tampering with a motor vehicle and unlawful use of a weapon charges.
Friends and family mourned the young rapper's death during a memorial service last week. "He loved his family and his extended family, and he was very supportive of the neighborhood," said Henderson's cousin, Sean Smith. "He lasted days in the hospital. He had the heart of a champion in his body." Henderson's funeral will be held Thursday in St. Louis.
Departed Music Personalities
Patrick Ford, Redferns / Getty Images
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Ebet Roberts/Redferns , Getty Images
Rusty Russell , Getty Images
Chuck Krall / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Mark Q. Murray, AP
Arnold Turner, WireImage / Getty Images
GAB Archive / Redferns / Getty Images
Donnie Beauchamp, Gaylord Entertainment / AP
Beth Gwinn, Retna
soKe.flace('music-boombox.dearlydeparted.popup', '476', '600');
var uid = new Date().getTime();
var flashProxy = new FlashProxy(uid, 'http://www.aolcdn.com/_media/modtools/kit_swfpublisher_javascriptflashgateway.swf');
var flashvars = {};
try { flashvars.lcId = uid; } catch (Exc) { };
try { flashvars.targetAds = 'music-boombox.dearlydeparted.popup'; } catch (Exc) { };
try { flashvars.omniture_tracker = '0'; } catch (Exc) { };
try { flashvars.adrefresh_wrapper = '1'; } catch (Exc) { };
try { flashvars.appswfURL = soKe.fv('http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=404790&pid=404789&uts=1243979017'); } catch (Exc) { };
if (typeof(screen_name) != 'undefined') try { flashvars.userName = screen_name; } catch (Exc) { };
var params = {};
try { params.wmode = 'opaque'; } catch (Exc) { };
try { params.menu = 'false'; } catch (Exc) { };
try { params.bgcolor = '#ffffff'; } catch (Exc) { };
try { params.quality = 'best'; } catch (Exc) { };
try { params.allowScriptAccess = 'always'; } catch (Exc) { };
try { params.allowFullScreen = 'true'; } catch (Exc) { };
var attributes = {};
try { attributes.id = 'outlet'; } catch (Exc) { };
top.exd_space.refresher.ads2Refresh(new Array(
'music-boombox.dearlydeparted.popup',
new Array('93243967','300','250','0','I','')
));
top.exd_space.refresher.iFrm2Refresh(new Array(
'music-boombox.dearlydeparted.popup',
new Array('Placement_ID', '1435668'),
new Array('Domain_ID', '1395767')
));
top.exd_space.refresher.mmx('music-boombox.dearlydeparted.popup', 'http://www.aolcdn.com/_media/channels/ke_blank.html', '');
swfobject.embedSWF('http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf', 'music-boombox.dearlydeparted.popup-swf', '476', '600', '9.0.115', 'http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/swfobject/expressinstall.swf', flashvars, params, attributes);
top.exd_space.refresher.launcher(
'music-boombox.dearlydeparted.popup',{
dynamicSlide:[''],
size:['476s'],
photoNumber:['0'],
title:['Recently Departed Music Stars'],
numimages:['28'],
baseImageURL:['http://cdn.compuserve.com/'],
imageurl:['http://o.aolcdn.com/photo-hub/news_gallery/6/1/617292/1243545261077.JPEG'],
credit:['Patrick Ford, Redferns / Getty Images'],
source:['Patrick Ford, Redferns / Getty Images'],
caption:['Jay Bennett, May 24: The multi-instrumentalist and former member of Wilco passed away in his sleep in May 2009 of unknown causes. He was 45 years old.'],
dims:['http://o.aolcdn.com/dims/PGMC/5/193/196/90/'],
showDisclaimerText:[''],
disclaimerText:[''],
CSS_Title:[''],
CSS_Caption:[''],
CSS_Disclaimer:[''],
CSS_Container:[''],
CSS_Border:[''],
CSS_PhotoWell:[''],
CSS_photoHolder:[''],
CSS_Buttons:[''],
CSS_BtnOver:[''],
CSS_Scroll:[''],
topMargin:['22,0,193,196,238,196,0,0']
}
);