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Rapper Lil Tjay arrested in connection with Offset shooting

In this handout photo provided by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Tione Jayden Merritt, also known as rapper Lil Tjay, poses for a police booking photo on April 6, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo by Broward County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images

Rapper Lil Tjay has been arrested in connection with the shooting of Offset, who was struck by a bullet outside a Florida hotel and casino on Monday.

Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Jayden Merritt, was booked on a disorderly conduct charge, according to Broward County Jail arrest records. As of Tuesday morning, he was being held on a $500 bail. He was also charged with a traffic violation that carries a $2,500 bond, reports Variety.

A lawyer for Lil Tjay, Dawn M. Florio, said in an Instagram statement that claiming her client was involved in the shooting was based on “false rumors.”

She said Lil Tjay was not shot, nor did he shoot Offset. She also denied his involvement in the shooting.

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“We encourage people to consult trusted news sources, and to verify the accuracy of any reporting, before reflexively sharing or repeating baseless rumors,” she wrote.

A spokesperson for the Seminole Police Department, Gary Bitney, said the incident started as a fight and that police detained a second person at the scene, who has not been charged.

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Offset is reportedly in a stable condition, but his exact medical condition is unknown.

According to his representative, the rapper, who was part of the group Migos, is being treated at a hospital and closely monitored.

Offset (real name: Kiari Kendrell Cephus) shares three children with rapper Cardi B.

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FILE – Offset arrives at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, March 17, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File

The Seminole Police Department said earlier on Tuesday that a person had sustained non-life-threatening injuries on Monday evening at a valet area outside of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Two people were detained in relation to the incident, and officials are investigating, officials said.

“The site is secure, and there is no threat to the public,” it added. “Operations continue as normal.”

Offset’s cousin, Takeoff, who was also a member of Migos, was fatally shot in 2022 at a bowling alley in Houston, Tx.

Click to play video: 'Migos group member Takeoff shot dead following a party in Houston'
Migos group member Takeoff shot dead following a party in Houston

The police department did not formally identify the victim.

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— With files from The Associated Press

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