Friends, family remember young Md. rapper Swipey as a rising star

SUITLAND, Md. - Prince George's County police still searching for the men who shot and killed a rising DC-area rap star over the weekend. Douglas Brooks was better known to his fans, family and friends as "Swipey," and he was just 18 years old when he died.

Early Sunday morning near his home in Suitland, Swipey was ambushed in the parking lot of the Suitland apartment complex where he lived. Prince George's County police said on Monday that there may have been four to five shooters involved in the killing of the rising rap star.

"From what I understand two separate groups approached the victim from two separate sides," said Cpt. Brian Reilly, adding the motive is still under investigation.

Family said Swipey had stepped outside of a party with his girlfriend when he was shot. There has been speculation on social media and from those who knew Swipey that the girlfriend was somehow involved, but police denied that, saying they have interviewed the young woman twice.

"We have absolutely nothing to indicate she was involved in this case. Absolutely nothing," Reilly said.

While police are working to track down his killers, Swipey's mother is mourning her son's loss -- alongside the many others who knew and loved him and his music.

"He graduated cum laude, he graduated from high school at 16," said Freda Brooks. "He took all his money to make songs and do his stuff--from Christmas money to allowance. He was a good boy."

Along with making music, Swipey was involved with D.C. radio station WPGC and was set to perform in a back-to-school show in early September.

"It really hit home for me," said WPGC news director Guy Lambert. "It was hard to do that story this morning. You're talking about a guy who really came up through the ranks in the WPGC family. He started on DMV Spotlight then he went on to Prom Patrol, and then, at our Birthday Bash, that's when I really saw that this guy's going to go on to be a star."

"He was really on the verge of being the next hot artist out of D.C.," said on-air host Tony Redz. "We had labels calling."

Redz knew Swipey well and said he was always professional and loved his fans.

"He signed every autograph, he took every picture, he shook every hand, so that's what made the city love him so much," Redz said. "So when you see all this outpouring on social media and things of that nature that's because he gave the love back."

Thousands of people used Twitter and other social media to express their condolences, including rapper Wale, making #RIPSwipey a trending topic.

If you have any information about this crime, contact Prince George's County police at 1-877-411-TIPS.