Rapper shot to death in Waldorf, sheriff's office says

WALDORF, Md. - A D.C.-area rapper was shot to death in Charles County late Tuesday evening, according to officials.

The Charles County Sheriff's Office said it responded to the 2200 block of Stream Vista Place in Waldorf for a report of multiple gunshots at around 10 p.m. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found 20-year-old Antonio LaMont Harper Jr. shot to death outside.

Harper was a rising rapper who went by the stage names A1 Lil Tony and Plug Son.

Harper's family is devastated by his death and said he only began rapping about two years ago. But he has always been known throughout the D.C. area for his infectious smile and personality.

According to his family, Harper was dropped off and was walking upstairs with his uncle when the gunman approached them by the stairs and opened fire. His uncle took off running, but Harper was hit multiple times.

About 30 minutes before the shooting, Harper tweeted, "We going keep riding around wit dem glocks until we find dem n*****"

The tweet appears to be lyrics from a song called "In My Bag" by the rapper Lil Baby.

Harper's uncle, Christopher Smith, said the tweet was just a coincidence and his nephew was not going to be out late searching for anyone.

"That was like literally impossible because he had to be here at 10 o'clock," he said. "Hate and envy is the worst thing ever. If you don't like a person, you hate them or envy them, stay away from them … I know people get in the news and say it all the time. If you didn't like Lil Tony, there was something wrong with you, really something wrong with you. He smiled all the time. Both of us just got our braces off and he just couldn't wait to just show his teeth."

Police said they do believe the shooting was targeted but the motive remains unclear at this point.

A candlelight vigil will held for Harper on Thursday in Waldorf and another one will take place Friday in Washington D.C.