Slain Rapper Rollie Bands’ Family and Friends Call for Justice

Rapper Rollie Bands is shown in his music video for Reminiscin'. (Credit: YouTube)

Five days after up-and-coming rapper Rollie Bands was fatally shot in Tampa, Florida, following a social media post daring critics to confront him, his killer has not yet been arrested.

The 27-year-old performer, real name Ari Williams, was the father of a six-year-old girl. In response to his killing, Williams’ family and friends are calling for justice.

“His daughter deserves that. His mom deserves that. Our family deserves that,” his aunt, Towanda Covington, told local news station WFLA-TV.

Related StoryRapper Rollie Bands Killed After Taunting Enemies on Instagram

Williams was gunned down Friday in the parking lot of his apartment complex, minutes after posting a message on Instagram telling his enemies he was on his way home. “If a ni–a want smoke, I’m at my crib in 5 mins,” he wrote in an Instagram Story.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released a press release saying Williams likely knew his killer. “At this time, the shooting does not appear random,” the sheriff’s office said.

Williams’ family told WFLA he had a disagreement with someone earlier Friday, before he expressed his frustration on Instagram.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of statement, he didn’t deserve for his life to be taken,” Covington said.

Williams’ friend, Tim Simmons, added that a social media post should not get someone killed.

“He shouldn’t have did that, but he also shouldn’t have died because of that either,” Simmons said.

Urban Hollywood 411 contacted the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for an update on the case. The department provided no new information and referred us to Friday’s press release.