Ammar Mullins
In April 2015, Lil Wayne's tour bus came under fire in a shooting in Atlanta, Georgia. While no one was injured, the incident led to a series of legal repercussions. Jimmy Carlton Winfrey, Young Thug's tour manager, was identified as the gunman and was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, possession of a firearm, and criminal gang activity. Despite Young Thug and Birdman, the boss of Wayne's Cash Money label, being named as associates and co-conspirators, they were not formally charged. Winfrey was sentenced to 20 years in prison, later released on a technicality, and is expected to be retried.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | 26 April 2015 |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| People Involved | Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Birdman, Jimmy Carlton Winfrey, Alvin Lewis |
| Incident | Multiple gunshots fired at Lil Wayne's tour bus |
| Injuries | None |
| Charges/Sentences | Jimmy Winfrey sentenced to 20 years (10 in prison, 10 on probation) for six gang-related charges; Young Thug charged with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and participation in criminal street gang activity |
| Other Details | Cell phone records indicate that Winfrey contacted Birdman and Thug before and after the shooting; Winfrey claimed Birdman was liable as the shooting was due to a financial dispute between Wayne and Birdman |
What You'll Learn
Jimmy Winfrey, Young Thug associate, charged with shooting
Jimmy Winfrey, also known as PeeWee Roscoe, was charged and convicted of shooting at Lil Wayne's tour bus in 2015. Winfrey is an associate of rapper Young Thug and a member of Young Slime Life (YSL), a gang with which Young Thug and Birdman are also affiliated.
Winfrey opened fire on Lil Wayne's tour bus in Atlanta, Georgia, in April 2015. No one was injured in the incident, but multiple gunshots were fired at the bus. The shooting occurred during a public feud between Lil Wayne and Cash Money, his longtime label, which resulted in Wayne suing the label for $51 million.
Winfrey was initially indicted on 30 counts related to the shooting, including aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm, and violations of the RICO Act and Street Gang Terrorism Prevention Act. He was also charged with six gang-related charges. In 2020, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison but was released early due to efforts to lower prison populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2022, Winfrey was indicted in the RICO case against YSL and had been on the run until his recent arrest in Las Vegas. He is expected to be extradited to Georgia and face retrial and resentencing for the shooting.
Young Thug and Birdman were named as co-conspirators in the shooting but were not charged. However, they were listed as associates of Winfrey, and the shooting was linked to a video posted on Young Thug's Instagram five days prior, in which Winfrey and weapons were seen. Additionally, the firearm used in the shooting resembled the one Winfrey was seen carrying in Young Thug's "Halftime" music video.
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Birdman, Cash Money CEO, named as an associate
Birdman, whose real name is Bryan "Baby" Williams, is the co-founder and CEO of Cash Money Records. He co-founded the label with his older brother, Ronald "Slim" Williams, in 1991.
Birdman was named as an associate of Jimmy Winfrey, the man charged with shooting at Lil Wayne's tour bus in 2015. After the shooting, Winfrey placed a call to a cell phone owned by Birdman. No one was injured in the incident, and Winfrey was sentenced to 20 years in prison and probation.
Birdman denied any involvement in the shooting, which occurred just months after Lil Wayne's very public split from Cash Money, resulting in Wayne suing the label for $51 million.
Birdman has had a long history in the music business. He has helped launch the careers of stars like Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga. However, he has also been accused of shady business dealings, with several artists leaving the label in the early 2000s citing financial mismanagement.
In 2014, Birdman began promoting Atlanta-based rappers Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan. Young Thug was rumored to be signing to Cash Money before contract issues got in the way. Birdman expressed faith in Young Thug's potential as a businessman and music mogul, stating that he had taught him a lot. He viewed Young Thug's label, YSL, as an extension of his own brand and empire.
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Young Thug and Birdman accused of orchestrating the attack
Young Thug and Birdman have been accused of orchestrating the attack on Lil Wayne's tour bus in April 2015. While neither face charges, they have been named as associates of the gunman, Jimmy Carlton Winfrey, also known as Peewee Roscoe.
Winfrey was sentenced to 20 years in prison, 10 of which will be served, and the remaining 10 as probation, after pleading guilty to six gang-related charges. He was indicted on 30 counts, including aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm, and violations of the RICO Act and Street Gang Terrorism Prevention Act.
Winfrey is a Young Thug associate and was identified as Young Thug's tour manager. Cell phone records indicated that he was in contact with Birdman and Thug before and after the shooting. In addition, prosecutors cited a Young Thug Instagram video posted five days before the shooting, in which Winfrey and weapons were seen. The video for Young Thug's "Halftime" also features Winfrey holding an assault rifle similar to the one used in the shooting.
Birdman denied any involvement, but according to court documents, Winfrey claimed Birdman "should be held liable as a party to the crime", believing the financial dispute between Wayne and Birdman led to the shooting.
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No one injured in the incident
On April 26, 2015, multiple gunshots were fired at Lil Wayne's tour bus in Atlanta, Georgia. The bus driver, Alvin Lewis, reported that several members of Young Money were inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
Jimmy Carlton Winfrey, Young Thug's tour manager, was identified as the gunman. He was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal gang activity. Winfrey was initially indicted on 30 counts but reached a plea deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to six gang-related charges. As a result, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, consisting of 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation.
Cell phone records indicated that Winfrey was in contact with Birdman and Young Thug before and after the shooting. Despite being named as associates of Winfrey, neither Birdman nor Young Thug faced charges directly related to the shooting. However, they were implicated in the incident as co-conspirators.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Lewis filed a lawsuit against Birdman, Young Thug, Cash Money Records, Young Money Records, and Winfrey. He alleged that the defendants put him in fear of death and caused him emotional distress. Lewis sought unspecified damages for his suffering.
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Bus driver sues Birdman, Young Thug, and Cash Money Records
In April 2015, Lil Wayne's tour bus came under gunfire following the artist's performance at the Compound nightclub in Atlanta. Several members of Young Money were inside the vehicle, but fortunately, no one sustained any injuries. The bus driver, Alvin Lewis, however, was traumatized by the incident and filed a lawsuit against multiple parties, including Bryan "Birdman" Williams, Jeffery "Young Thug" Williams, Cash Money Records, and Young Money Records.
According to Lewis's lawsuit, filed in Georgia's Cobb County State Court, the defendants placed him "in immediate fear of death and severe bodily harm by attacking and attempting to kill him without any just provocation or cause." Lewis alleges that the shooting caused him substantial pain, anguish, suffering, discomfort, and financial losses, including medical expenses, lost personal and professional property, and lost wages. He is suing for assault and battery, breach of contract, intentional infliction of distress, and other charges, seeking unspecified damages.
The gunman, Jimmy Carlton Winfrey (also known as Peewee Roscoe), was sentenced to 20 years, with 10 years in prison and 10 years on probation, after pleading guilty to six gang-related charges. While Winfrey was the only individual charged in connection with the shooting, Birdman and Young Thug were named as his associates in the indictment. Cell phone records indicated that Winfrey communicated with Birdman and Thug before and after the shooting.
The lawsuit also alleges that the shooting stemmed from a larger contract dispute between Lil Wayne and Cash Money Records, which contributed to the bad blood that spurred the attack. Lewis's attorney, Jeffrey Gewirtz, emphasized that Lewis has not returned to work since the shooting and continues to suffer from emotional injuries, including post-traumatic stress.
Young Thug and Birdman have not been formally charged in connection with the shooting, but the incident has left a lasting impact on Alvin Lewis, who is seeking justice and compensation for his suffering.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Young Thug was not the gunman who shot up Lil Wayne's tour bus. The shooter was identified as Jimmy Carlton Winfrey, Young Thug's tour manager.
While Young Thug was not formally charged for the shooting, he was accused of orchestrating the attack along with Birdman, the boss of Wayne's Cash Money label.
No, although there were several members of Young Money inside the bus, no one sustained any injuries.
The shooting occurred just months after Lil Wayne's public dispute with Cash Money, which resulted in him suing the label for $51 million. Birdman denied any involvement, and prosecutors claimed Winfrey orchestrated the shooting in order to gain "street cred".
