TORONTO – The murder of an aspiring rapper over the weekend has police pleading for the public’s help.
Anthony Spencer, also known as Tony Trapz, was shot inside a recording studio at 799 Brimley Rd., just south of Lawrence Ave. E, around 5 a.m. on Saturday.
Spencer was dropped off by friends at Scarborough General Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
Police aren’t catching much of a break with this case as friends of the slain rapper aren’t revealing many details to investigators.
“The individuals that we are interviewing … are being far less than truthful with regards to the narrative of what happened,” Det-Sgt. Gary Giroux said at a press conference on Sunday.
“If everybody came back to us and told us exactly what they have heard or know with their own senses, I think we could resolve this case very quickly,” he added.
One prominent community advocate and hip hop blogger says that “snitching” or to be an informer is “a street code” promoted to young people.
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“It’s not so much a fear of retribution but a fear of their reputation,” says HipHossip.com blogger-founder Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo. “Even the rapper himself, rapped it in his music,” referring to the song “Gunz, Money, Drugz,” one of his music videos on YouTube with over 8,000 clicks.
“The reason is because of street credibility. The mix tapes sell on the street,” she says, adding that although a record deal might not be signed, it is through the streets that young artists gain notoriety.
Omololu-Olunloyo, who volunteers with Toronto police, helped organize a rally with Toronto-area hip hop artists in November 2010, denouncing gun crimes in the city. An outspoken critic of gun crimes, she said she has testified in a quadruple shooting/double homicide case in the U.S. and credits the American justice system in helping solve some but not all gun crimes.
“It’s time that Canadians start to do the right thing and what’s morally right to help police with their investigation,” she says.
“They can use CrimeStoppers if they’re declining to be interviewed. That’s the difference between Canada and America. In America, you have to talk.”
In Canada callers are protected by the Supreme Court of Canada when using 1-800-222-TIPS.
Spencer is survived by his three-year-old daughter.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Toronto Police’s Homicide Squad or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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Rapper deaths in Toronto:
-Tony Traps or Trapz, also known as Anthony Spencer, January 21, 2012
-Wizzle, also known as Jamahl Franklin, January 2, 2012
-KD, also known as Andrew Stewart, June 16, 2011
-DJ Platnum, also known as Shane Williams, March 2, 2011
-Kartel, also known as Donald Richard Grant, November 7, 2010
-Philly Blunts, also known as Andrew Dowden, July 30, 2010
-Splitz or Codeine, also known as Chris Tshilombo, July 23, 2010
-Yung Mecca, also known as Ludlow Gillespie, was killed in a domestic dispute. May 29, 2010.
-Meyend Tricks, also known as Michael George, July 29, 2007
-Blits, also known as Kareme Parks, October 9, 2006
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