Video shows moment man opened fire at TI gig in Manhattan

The attack left one dead and three injured

Dramatic footage reveals the moment people ran for their lives when a rapper drew out a gun backstage at a T.I. concert and opened fire, killing one and leaving three injured.

Troy Ave, whose real name is Ronald Collins, was arrested on Thursday and charged with attempted murder and two counts of criminal possession of weapons.

The black and white CCTV footage shows Mr Collins storm into the VIP lounge, scan the room and raise his gun. As people clutch onto each other around the bar, he fires and walks out again.

He killed a member of his security team, Ronald McPhatter.


 Mr McPhatter reportedly knew the suspect shooter since school

Mr Collins, who was also due to perform, shot himself accidentally in the leg and walked into the New York University medical center after the concert.

Police Commissioner William Bratton said: “The music, unfortunately, often-times celebrates violence, celebrates degradation of women, celebrates the drug culture and it’s unfortunate that as they get fame and fortune, that some of them are just not able to get out of the life, if you will.”

Rapper T.I., the three-time Grammy Award winner who featured on Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” track, was supposed to be on stage at the time but failed to show up.

He sent his condolences to the victims and their families via his Instagram account, saying rap music is "intended to save lives, like it has mine and many others".

People panicked and started to run out of the venue on Irving Plaza, near Union Square in downtown Manhattan, when they heard gunshots on Wednesday night.

Two bystanders were injured in the shooting. A 33-year-old man called Christopher Vinson and a 26-year-old woman, Maggie Heckstall, were shot in the abdomen and in the leg.

The incident occured around 10.15pm, about 30 to 45 minutes after T.I was expected to come on stage.

The venue began playing music around 10pm, but just 15 minutes later shots were heard in the crowd.

Police said there is no evidence to connect T.I with the violence.

The incident was the third in a decade where a shooting broke out at the venue where he was due to perform.