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Troy Ave Arraigned in Irving Plaza Shooting Case, Held Without Bail

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 17: Troy Ave performs onstage as Coors Light Soundtrack reFRESH brings DJ Mustard, Fabolous and special guests To NYC at Stage 48 on November 17, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Coors Light)

Yesterday, Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave was formally arraigned on charges of attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection to a shooting at New York City’s Irving Plaza last Wednesday that left three (including himself) wounded and one — his bodyguard Ronald McPhatter — dead. The 30-year-old artist, born Roland Collins, was cuffed to his wheelchair as he was escorted into a Manhattan court. McPhatter pled not guilty to the charges and will be held without bail until his trial, according to the Daily News.

The charges come after venue surveillance footage showed Troy Ave firing rounds at an unseen target. Prosecutors say the rapper fired five rounds and shot himself in the leg. He’s the police’s only arrest following the fatal incident.

A photo posted by @elliottwilson on

Despite the evidence, Troy Ave’s attorney Scott Leemon maintains that he’s not the one to blame.

“What really happened here is Mr. Collins here is the real victim,” Leemon said. “The person who was killed at this event, he died a hero. He was his bodyguard. He wasn’t shot by Mr. Collins. He was a lifelong friend.”

The attorney also said that the 11 seconds of incriminating footage only tell part of the story and “it doesn’t say what happened before, it doesn’t say what happened after.”

There’s still the possibility Troy Ave’s charges could be upgraded to murder depending on the result of the ballistics test, according to the Daily News.