Rapper Lil Baby has been arrested in Las Vegas on gun charges. Cops alleged that the 29-year-old rapper was found with a concealed firearm, which he had no authorization to hold. According to Clark County court documents, Lil Baby, whose real name is Dominique Armani Jones, didn’t have a permit to carry the weapon in Nevada.
However, Lil Baby’s attorneys have told journalists that they are still investigating the incident. At the same time, they’ve stated that the rapper has a valid Georgia permit for the weapon. Interestingly, the rapper is no stranger to police detention. He has had multiple run-ins with the law.
Details of Lil Baby’s Arrest
Lil Baby got himself in trouble on Monday, August 26, 2024. At about 5 a.m., Las Vegas Metropolitan ran into him after an incident in the neighborhood. Police say they were responding to the undisclosed incident on South Las Vegas Boulevard when they accosted the rapper.
Police found that Lil Baby had a concealed weapon without a permit. Records state that police booked him into the Clark County Detention Center afterwards. Later, they released him on bail after he posted a bond of $5,000 in cash. The rapper is set to appear in court next on October 1.
Social media videos have shown that the rapper was having a great time just before his arrest. Videos spotted him ringing in James Harden’s birthday party in Las Vegas on Sunday, August 25. Other industry greats, such as Chris Brown and Travis Scott, were also in attendance.
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TMZ claimed that Lil Baby, popular for hip-hop tracks such as “Drip Too Hard” and “Yes Indeed,” was seen receiving a gun inside the Encore hotel on the Vegas strip. On the music side, Lil Baby is still basking in the success of his 2022 album “It’s Only Me.”
He released the album, which is his third studio album, on October 14. The project debuted at the number 1 spot on the Billboard 200.
But fans have been asking for more from the Georgia-born rapper. Recently, he showed his lyrical dexterity as he featured in Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s “Vultures 2” album cut “Forever Rolling.” Amongst his long list of achievements is a Grammy Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and two BET Awards.
What Lil Baby’s Attorneys Said About the Arrest
Lil Baby’s attorneys, David Chesnoff and Drew Findling, have said in a joint statement that they are still looking into the case. “On his behalf, we are actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding his arrest in Las Vegas,” their statement read.
Even though Lil Baby’s attorneys say he has a concealed carry permit from Georgia, the permit isn’t valid in Nevada. Georgia is one of over 20 states whose concealed carry permit isn’t recognized in The Silver State. California is another state on the list.
According to a warning on the Georgia’s Attorney General website, “Georgia weapons license holders should familiarize themselves with the individual requirements and limitations on Georgia weapons licenses in any of the states where they may wish to exercise their rights.”
The statement continued thus; “Weapons laws vary from state to state, and there may be municipal or county ordinances regulating weapons in other states.”
While open carry is legal according to Nevada law, residents need special permission for concealed carry. Thankfully, Georgia is one of the Shall Issue states. This means the state’s issuing authority must give applicants a permit once they tick certain boxes. There are currently 41 Shall Issue states.
To obtain a concealed carry license, a Nevada resident must pass some basic requirements at the county level. For Lil Baby, escaping the hammer of the law seems like a tall order, as there are no indications that he had obtained a Nevada concealed carry permit.
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It Is Not the Rapper’s First Run-In With the Law
Rappers are pretty notorious for being on the wrong side of the law. For some, getting frequently arrested is sort of like a badge of honor. Lil Baby is probably no different. The rapper has been arrested on several occasions in the past. Two of such notable incidents happened in Atlanta and Europe.
In February 2019, Lil Baby got into a legal battle after cops arrested him for reckless driving. Georgia State Patrol officers arrested him on Thursday, February 7. The cops also accused him of failure to use a turn signal and eluding police.
Specifically, reports stated that the rapper’s Orange Corvette didn’t signal while changing lanes. Afterwards, the car increased its speed and overtook vehicles “in a reckless manner in a high pedestrian area.”
The other arrest happened in 2021. Paris police arrested the rapper for “transporting drugs.” Notably, Lil Baby was in the city to attend the Paris Fashion Week. Luckily, he gained freedom after paying a fine.
Was Lil Baby Ever Locked Up?
Lil Baby has been locked up following an arrest in the past. While he made a living as a drug dealer and gambler on the streets of Atlanta, he landed in prison at some point. In 2015, he spent two years in a maximum security prison after several arrests for marijuana and firearm possession.
But after going into music and gaining relevance in the hip-hop industry, he seemed to have reduced his connection to drugs and weapons possession. Hopefully, he will turn a new leaf and avoid future arrests.
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