Family, friends, and fans of Atlanta rapper Young Scooter, whose real name was Kenneth Bailey, gathered today for his private funeral service at St. Philip AME Church on Candler Road, as the Atlanta community continues to mourn the loss of the 39-year-old artist. Bailey died on his birthday, March 28, following a severe leg injury incurred during an incident involving a hoax 911 call, according to Fox5 Atlanta.
Prior to the funeral, a public visitation was held from noon to 4 p.m. at Donald Trimble Mortuary in Decatur, allowing numerous fans and members of the community to pay respects, and a local park in the Kirkwood neighborhood was also a gathering place last Wednesday where hundreds came together to honor the rapper's memory which itself was a testament to the impact Young Scooter had on those around him. Bailey is expected to be laid to rest in his hometown of Walterboro, South Carolina, a statement echoed by his family who are coping with their profound loss supported by community love and remembrance.
The series of events leading to Bailey's untimely death began with a fake emergency call filed by 31-year-old Demetria Spence, who has been arrested and charged with transmitting a false public alarm. She reported a fabricated violent dispute at the home where Bailey was celebrating, a ploy that resulted in police response and ultimately, Bailey's fatal attempt to evade authorities, 11Alive reports.
At the vigil held last Wednesday, Baby Jade, a close family friend and podcast host, told 11Alive, "He gets so much love because he gave so much and he embodied so much love — he was love." The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Bailey's death an accident, stating he died from blood loss after suffering the injury, these details have been swirling among grieving community members who continue to grapple with the reality of sudden loss and the circumstances it circumnavigated.
