Police have released surveillance video images of a white pick up truck seen leaving the scene of a fatal shooting early Saturday morning.
19-year-old Adair Freeman was shot to death outside his father’s recording studio on Jan. 24 at 1:50 a.m. as he returned to the studio from a Shell gas station at 14th and Spring streets.
Surveillance video shows a white late model Chevrolet pickup truck with a black bed liner pull past the pumps at the Shell station and park in the shadows near a chain link fence separating the property from the adjoining Hot Beats studio where Freeman worked with his father, Russell Freeman. (Watch video)
Police believe two men inside the pickup truck targeted Freeman while he was inside the convenience store and waited for him to walk by.
What got their attention was the fake diamond chain dangling around Freeman’s neck. Surveillance video from inside the convenience store shows Freeman totally iced out with fake bling on his neck, wrists and fingers.
This type of jewelry called “Hip Hop ice” was popularized by rappers in music videos and is favored by so-called “ballers” in the Hip-Hop community who use the flashy baubles to entice thirsty females.
The trouble is the jewelry also entices thieves who are too dumb to know the difference between authentic diamond jewelry and the fake stuff these kids wear.
Police say the truck’s driver exited the vehicle and robbed Freeman of his chain, shooting him twice in the chest. The driver then got back into the truck on the passenger side. Someone else drove the truck away from the crime scene.
The iced out chain the thieves stole was probably worth $50 tops. The teenager died with $90 still in his jeans pocket.
