Posted by Hartford, CT – Another rapper’s life has been drastically cut short by gun violence. According to The Courant, 17-year-old Juan Bautista Garcia, who went by the rap moniker YNY Juan, was found dead inside a parked car in a Hartford, Connecticut neighborhood on Sunday night (August 8).
With over 25,000 Instagram followers and nearly 4,000 YouTube subscribers, Garcia was just beginning to take steps toward a promising rap career. His most recent video, “Power Remix,” was released last week.
“He was only 17 years old,” a childhood friend of Garcia said. “He never went live on his Instagram to talk about drama, he only went on there to support his friends or promote his music. [He] didn’t even get to graduate school yet.”
Circumstances surrounding the shooting are currently under investigation by the Hartford Police Major Crime and Crime Scene divisions.
Garcia’s death marks the 25th homicide police are investigating in Hartford this year, tying the number for homicides in 2020 and double the total number recorded in 2019.
Ice Cube + 2Pac Affiliate Gonzoe Dead At 45
The teen rapper’s death also continues a disturbing trend of fatal shootings that have come in rapid succession since King Von’s November 2020 murder. Dallas rapper Mo3, Sacramento’s Hot Boy Ju, 2Pac and Ice Cube affiliate Gonzoe and Lil Durk’s brother DThang are among the over dozen rappers who have been killed in recent months.
HipHopDX sends our condolences to Garcia’s family, friends and fans.