US rapper JayDaYoungan shot and killed in Louisiana home town

The Louisiana rapper JayDaYoungan has been shot dead in his hometown of Bogalusa, north of New Orleans, police said.

The musician, whose real name is Javorius Scott, was killed Wednesday just after 6pm. He was 24.

Police said they had received a call about a shooting just before 6pm on Wednesday. One of the injured people was brought to Our Lady of the Angels emergency room. Another victim, still on the scene, was critically wounded and was transported there by ambulance.

Police were then notified of another shooting shortly after 7pm, about four miles from the first shooting. Authorities said a car was hit by bullets, but the occupants were not injured, police said.

In a Facebook post, Bogalusa police confirmed Scott’s death “as a result of his injuries”. The other victim, identified by multiple news outlets as Kenyatta Scott Sr, the rapper’s father, was said to be in stable condition. Police said the surviving victim was a “close relative” of the rapper but would not discuss their relationship.

Bogalusa police investigators said they believe the two shootings are linked.

The Bogalusa mayor, Wendy Perrette, in a statement, urged residents to remain calm while police investigate.

“The senseless shooting in Bogalusa [is] another tragic reminder of the pain that violent crime brings with it,” she said. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ family and friends. As your mayor and as a mother I plead on behalf of our community and for our children: today must mean enough is finally enough. Stop the violence! See something, say something.”

In 2016, Scott released his debut mixtape, YOUNGANimal. He later signed to Atlantic Records and dropped his mixtape Misunderstood, featuring the breakout hit 23 Island, in 2019. His major-label debut album Baby23 arrived in 2020.

This year he released two EPs, Scarred and All Is Well. In his brief career, Scott had worked with Lil Durk, Latto, Moneybagg Yo and Kevin Gates.

Scott has more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram. His most recent video, First Day Out Pt2, had amassed 1.9m views on YouTube. A spokesman for Atlantic Records could not immediately be reached for comment.