Rapper Fatally Shoots 2 Men Inside Florida Recording Studio, Arrested

A regular music jam session turned deadly after a young rapper from Tampa, Florida, shot and killed two men he was composing music with inside a recording studio.

Billy Bennett Adams III was arrested Saturday for his connection with the fatal shooting incident that took place just before midnight Thursday in a backyard shed near the Campus Lodge Tampa in the suburb of Lutz.

The 23-year-old, who goes by the stage name Ace NH, had been recording a song with the two victims in the backyard shed turned studio hours before the shooting, investigators said.

The motive for the shooting was not clear, however, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a press release Saturday the incident was targeted and part of a gang war.

"This was a violent execution this suspect performed, and although the attack was clearly targeted, we will not allow gang-related disputes to disrupt the comfort and safety of innocent residents in any of our communities," Chronister said.

"It is clear that this suspect had no regard for human life, and now he will face the consequences for his actions," the sheriff added.

The identities of the victims have not been released by the authorities yet, but they were reported to be Black men, according to ABC News. An investigation into the suspect’s social media account revealed Adams and one of the victims were closely associated and members of the Crips gang, the sheriff’s office said. It is not clear as to how the second victim was related to the suspect.

The crisp gang found in Los Angeles has its base in the coastal regions of southern California. The gang has several subgroups and are infamous for their involvement in open warfare with rival gangs.

The sheriff’s Gang Unit is investigating the incident. The unit dedicated to counter gangs and its associates involved in criminal activities has arrested 170 members so far.

Adams is being held without bail and facing two counts of premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm and one count of armed burglary of a structure.

Adams, who is originally from Virginia, worked as a salesman at the Finish Line store in Wesley Chapel. He has been performing in local venues in Tampa since 2017. Adams has three long-play albums, two shorter albums, and several singles to his name. His latest album, “Life Goes On ” released earlier this year.