Photo Credit:Boward County Jail
Rapper Lil Tjay was taken into custody on Tuesday evening, April 7, 2026, following a violent altercation at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino that left fellow artist Offset hospitalized with a gunshot wound. While Tjay has been processed at the Broward County Jail, his legal team has moved quickly to distance the “In My Head” singer from the actual shooting.
The incident occurred around 7:00 p.m. in the valet area of the high-profile resort. According to the Seminole Police Department, a confrontation broke out between two groups, which quickly escalated into gunfire. Offset (born Kiari Kendrell Cephus) sustained a non-life-threatening wound to the leg and was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he is currently in stable condition and being closely monitored.
Lil Tjay (born Tione Jayden Merritt) was apprehended at the scene alongside another unidentified individual. Records from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office show that Tjay was booked on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct-affray. He was held on a $500 bond, and a mugshot showing the 24-year-old rapper in a casual hoodie was released shortly after his processing.
Despite the arrest, Tjay’s attorney, Dawn Florio, issued a forceful statement on Tuesday denying any involvement in the shooting itself. “Lil Tjay has not been shot, nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting,” Florio stated. “We are issuing this release in regards to false rumors that Lil Tjay was involved in a shooting… Any reporting to the contrary is false.” The defense maintains that while Tjay may have been present during the “scuffle,” he was not the triggerman.
The two rappers have been embroiled in a public feud for over a year. In early 2025, Tjay sparked controversy by claiming on social media that Offset was “broke” and had a “gambling addiction,” even alleging the Migos rapper owed him $10,000. Viral footage captured moments before Monday’s shooting appears to show the two artists engaged\ in a heated verbal argument near the casino entrance.
Authorities have emphasized that the site is secure and there is no ongoing threat to the
public. As of Tuesday afternoon, April 7, 2026, no one has been officially charged with
the attempted murder of Offset, and the investigation remains active as police review
surveillance footage from the heavily trafficked valet area.
