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Rapper charged with attempted murder

Roland Collins, popularly known as Troy Ave was on Monday charged with attempted murder in connection with the Irving Plaza shooting that killed his bodyguard and wounded two others.

New York Post reported that the Crown Heights rapper was ordered held without bail at Manhattan Criminal Court for the shooting at a rap concert last week that was caught on surveillance video.

The rapper is seen on the video exiting the VIP rooms and “shooting a semi automatic pistol in the direction of other individuals,” according to the criminal complaint.

One of those injured was Maggie Carrie Heckstall, Bronx-born model who is pals with Maino, another rapper who was performing that night. Christopher Vinson, 34, was also wounded in the shooting.

Heckstall has told The Post that she was sitting on a couch using Snapchat when the bullets started to fly.

Troy Ave’s bodyguard, Ronald McPhatter, was mortally wounded in the gunfire, but the rapper was not charged with his death, suggesting another shooter may have been involved.

Collins was shot in the leg, his lawyer, Scott Leemon, said his client was the real victim.

Leemon added that the rapper’s bodyguard “died a hero” trying to protect the artist.

The shooting took place as Maino and the artist Uncle Murda were performing onstage in advance of an appearance by T.I.

*Photo shows Troy Ave.

 

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