Ryan Cameron of the Ryan Cameron Show (V-103) broke the news today of arrests in the 2-year-old murder case involving an associate of rapper T.I.
Philant Johnson, T.I.’s best friend and personal assistant, was killed on May 2, 2006 during a rolling shootout on a Cincinnati highway following an altercation at a Cincinnati nightclub.
T.I., Philant and members of T.I.’s entourage were ambushed as they left the club where T.I. made an appearance at a concert afterparty.
According to Ryan, reliable sources close to the case speaking to the Ryan Report on condition of anonymity, said 2 suspects are in custody and a warrant will be served on the alleged triggerman sometime this week.
Sources told the Ryan Report that detectives made an arrest in an unrelated case and new information regarding the old murder case was obtained as a result of that arrest. The motive for the ambush may not have been over money thrown into the crowd during a performance by Yung Joc who was on tour with T.I. at the time.
Sources tell the Ryan Report that a promoter mistakenly believed he had booked T.I. for an afterparty at his club only to find out he had been duped by a person who said they could secure an appearance from T.I.
When the promoter learned that T.I. was at another party he went to the scene with other individuals and waited for T.I. to leave the club. After a brief war of words in the parking lot, the promoter and his crew allegedly followed T.I.’s caravan of vehicles onto the highway where the assailants opened fire on the vehicles carrying T.I. and members of his entourage. Police say T.I.’s security who were licensed to carry weapons, returned fire.
Philant was killed and three other members of T.I.’s entourage were wounded in the shootout. Police say a 25 caliber pistol and a 9mm handgun were used in the shootings. One of the assailants was apparently hit in the exchange of gunfire, but managed to escape detection by crossing state lines to be treated for his gunshot wound.
Source: Marsha Hallager, Ryan Cameron Show producer, V-103
