Rapper Shot, Killed While Making Music Video

GRIFFIN, Ga.,None — A rapper known as Yung Hott was killed in a shooting spree that erupted while he was making a video in his hometown of Griffin.

Police said about 20 rounds were fired about 6 p.m. Saturday. The rapper, whose real name is Jerode Paige, was shot in the head and died at the scene.

"I saw them," witness Virginia Berry told Channel 2's Tony Thomas. "They just shot him like this; pump, pump, shoot, pump, shoot, pump."

"It sounded like a big firecracker going off," said Melanie Watkins, who was nearby when the shooting happened.

Rapper Gunned Down Making Music Video

The 27-year-old victim was filming his first video when the shooting erupted. His uncle, Kenny Paige, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that about 150 to 200 people were working on the video or watching the action.

"What you see here is a (fusillade) of spent shell casings, shotgun shells," Lt. Sam Parks of the Griffin Police Department said. "There are shell casings over this entire block."

Three others were injured in the shooting, including 5-year-old Taylor Berry. She was playing in a toy car nearby when a bullet hit her in the foot.

"She crawled from (the toy car) to the porch," said Taylor's grandma Virginia. "She says, 'Grandma, I've been hit.'"

Berry was taken to Spalding Regional Hospital and later transferred to Children's Hospital at Eggleston. She had a bullet removed from her foot. She has been released.

Two other victims, who are also persons of interest, were treated at Spalding Regional Hospital and are being detained at Spalding County Jail.

Griffin police are questioning a third person in connection with the shooting. They are still searching for at least two others. Police said casings from more than one type of weapon were recovered at the scene, but no weapons were found.

Friends of the victim showed Thomas Yung Hott's latest CD. The photo on the cover depicted a crime scene with what appears to be a deceased person in the middle of the street with the Griffin police investigating. The crime scene tape in the picture reads, "Yung Hott Killin 'Em."

WSBTV