Rapper Skilla Baby, whose real name is Trevon Gardner, was shot in the head during a drive-by attack on a busy Detroit street, according to police. The assailant drove up beside his vehicle and unleashed 25 bullets, forcing Skilla Baby to lose control and crash his SUV into a building. The incident occurred on Thursday night, leaving the rapper with gunshot wounds to the head, hand, and thigh. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.
Authorities found bullet casings at the scene, and the building struck by his vehicle has been boarded up. The shooter fled and has not yet been identified. Although the motive remains unclear, police believe the attack was targeted. Skilla Baby has not publicly commented as he continues to receive treatment.
Just a day before the shooting, the rapper had posted a video of himself performing in his car. Concerned fans quickly flooded his social media with messages of support. One fan pleaded, “Skilla please don’t die,” while others offered prayers for his recovery.
This is not the first time Skilla Baby has survived a shooting. In 2022, early in his career, he was shot but not seriously injured. He later joked that people began paying attention to his music following the incident, comparing the reaction to that of rapper 50 Cent’s rise after being shot.
Skilla Baby launched his music journey with the mixtape Push That S**t Out Skilla in 2019 and gained popularity with his track Womack in 2020. He signed with Geffen Records in 2022 and opened for Travis Scott on the Circus Maximus tour. His 2022 project We Eat The Most helped him chart, and he was named BET’s Amplified Artist in April 2024.
In addition to his music, Skilla Baby has also spoken out on gun violence. In February 2024, he worked with Detroit officials in a gun buyback initiative, stating the need to disrupt cycles of violence driven by systemic issues.
