Former Cash Money Records rapper Magnolia Shorty was one of two victims gunned down in New Orleans Monday afternoon (December 20) as part of a drive-by shooting.
According to NOLA.com, the 28-year-old rapper (real name: Renetta Lowe) was sitting inside a vehicle outside an apartment complex in eastern New Orleans, when several armed man drove by and opened fire.
Lowe and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Jerome Hampton, both suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body, and their car crashed into the gates of the "Georgetown of New Orleans" apartment complex.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.
Further details, such as a possible motive and/or suspect, were not immediately released by police. The case is still under investigation.
More than 22,000 fans have since joined an online memorial page, created on Facebook, which announced Magnolia Shorty's death before police announced the identity of the two victims.
By late afternoon on Monday, New Orleans' popular DJ Wild Wayne announced the rapper's passing on hip-hop radio station Q93.3FM.
"Magnolia Shorty killed in another senseless act of violence in our city," he announced between songs. "She will definitely be missed."
The radio DJ, saying he confirmed her death with friends and others in the community, noted last month's murder of Messy Mya.
"This senseless killing has got to stop," he said.
Magnolia Shorty was signed to Cash Money Records in the early '90s, growing up in New Orleans' Magnolia public housing complex, along with members of The Hot Boys group. In 2005, she released debut album, titled Monkey On Tha D$ck, via Cash Money Records.
But, most recently, she was enjoying local success with a pair of club hits, one called "Smoking Gun" (a remix of a Jadakiss song), and another called "My Boy." She was also working on her sophomore effort.
