Rapper Lil Lonnie was killed when gunshots were fired at the car he was driving over the weekend, causing him him to lose control and crash into a house in Jackson, Mississippi.
Lonnie Taylor, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene but it was clear whether he was killed by a gunshot or crash injuries, ABC affiliate WAPT reported. A woman riding with him escaped unharmed.
Taylor was driving along Montebello Drive in his hometown when someone fired several shots into the back of his vehicle at around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, just hours after he posted a selfie to Instagram with the caption "no going back....you know imma keep it coming."
No suspects have been identified and a motive for the shooting has not been established, USA Today reported.
Taylor broke into the rap scene with his 2015 single "Colors." Rather than splurge his money on clothes, cars and mansions, he was using it to take care of his father and four siblings, USA Today said.
High school friend Barry Stevens described Taylor as an all-round positive person.
"Never on a negative, nothing negative, really didn't deserve it," he said, per Fox 8.
"I hate it had to end this way, but you know how it is here in Jackson. They won't let you chase your dream. Sad. You can't even chase your dream now."
Another friend, Carl Jacobs, added that the shooting was truly tragic because Taylor was "was out here, he was working, he was out here showing his love for the folks. He was out here just trying to make his own career better."
Fans and other artists took to social media to honor Taylor and extend their condolences to his family.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rest in power Lil Lonnie.. may your music live on.... may the almighty lift up and bless your family..</p>— LLCOOLJ. (@llcoolj) <a href="https://twitter.com/llcoolj/status/991054183208898560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP Lil Lonnie he was so talented 🙏🏿prayers up</p>— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) <a href="https://twitter.com/therealjuicyj/status/990953513025875969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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