Rapper Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Jayden Merritt, has been arrested in connection with an altercation that preceded the shooting of fellow rapper Offset outside a Florida casino. The Seminole Police Department confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, charging the 24-year-old with disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without a valid license.
The incident occurred at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, just north of Miami. Police stated that a fight broke out before the shooting, which took place in a valet area outside the casino. Offset, born Kiari Kendrell Cephus, was hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries, a spokesperson confirmed.
Lil Tjay’s lawyer, Dawn M. Florio, told the Associated Press that her client did not possess a firearm and was not charged with any weapons-related offences. She added that he paid bond and was released on Tuesday afternoon. A second individual detained at the scene has not been charged, and police are working to identify others involved.
Offset, a former member of the hip-hop trio Migos, has been recovering in hospital. The shooting comes more than three years after the death of his cousin and fellow Migos member Takeoff, who was fatally shot outside a Houston bowling alley in 2022. Offset has since pursued a solo career, releasing albums including 2023’s “Set It Off” and 2025’s “Kiari.”
