Rapper Money Mitch dies by suicide after shootout with police

Money Mitch died on Friday (Picture: Instagram)

Rapper Money Mitch has died by suicide aged 23 after a shootout with police.

The rising star, real name Marcus Pettis, has been named as the deceased after a man died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot on Friday afternoon in Lake Park, Florida.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference, where Deputy Chief Frank DeMario explained that Pettis was under surveillance in connection to a murder investigation.

He said: ‘About 10 minutes to four our tactical unit was surveilling a suspect for murder. They also have probable cause on him for drugs.’

Officials executed a traffic stop at 4pm on an Uber Pettis was travelling in, by Evergreen Drive and 9th Street, and Pettis reportedly ‘jumped out of the car, and started shooting at us. I don’t know how many rounds were fired, six or seven but he did it in several different locations.’

Two PBSO deputies returned fire and then Pettis then attempted to flee the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

DeMario said: ‘We followed him to a building and on the second floor, we noticed some blood droppings on the first floor. We thought he was wounded. When we got up there he had [died by] suicide.’

Officials said that they ‘didn’t have any involvement in the shooting’ and did not exchange fire with Pettis inside the building.

Two of the deputies involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave as ‘standard department protocol’.

An investigation is being conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, PBSO Violent Crimes detectives and the State Attorney’s Office. 

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Money Mitch had been on the rise on the Florida rap scene, and his collaboration with Soldier Kidd, All The Way, has nearly 50,000 views on YouTube.

Lil Baby was among those paying tribute to the rapper, saying: ‘Bra, I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. Dam Mitch, you was on me every day.’

According to HotNewHipHop, Money Mitch had been speaking to Lil Baby about a possible record deal. 

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