T.I. Testifies in Shooting Case
Rapper T.I. testified Friday in a Cincinnati courtroom that the bullets fired killing his friend and bodyguard two years ago were actually meant for him. "All of those rounds were fired for me, in my opinion," he said.
The 27-year-old recounted the night in which he and his entourage were allegedly approached and later followed by suspects Hosea and Padron Thomas. T.I. also recalled seeing blood running down the victim, Philant Johnson's face resulting from a shot to the left temple. "Before I knew it, shots rang out," said T.I.
Although he didn't identify any shooters the rapper confirmed Hosea's statement that someone from his van returned fire as he took cover. He also explained how he informed Johnson's mother of her son's death. "I told her that he was gone to a better place and he won't be coming back. And I told her how much he loved her," he said.
According to the prosecution Padron Thomas drove the vehicle while his brother Hosea shot at T.I.'s vehicle on May 3, 2006. Padron will also testify against his brother in exchange for the lesser sentence of manslaughter.
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The altercation which began at a Cincinnati nightclub ended with the death of Johnson, and the injury of four others. T.I. was not injured in the shooting.
Next year the rapper will begin a one year prison sentence on federal gun possession charges stemming from his arrest in 2007 before the BET Hip-Hop awards.
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