“The family is very upset,” says the rapper’s lawyer, Gardel Purperhart.
The shooting took place around 5:25 am on the Rhoneweg in Amsterdam. “Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene and urgently transferred the victim to hospital,” police said. But help was of no use and the man died from his injuries.
The police have started a major investigation in the area and no suspects have been arrested so far. The investigation is calling on witnesses to come forward.
Bigidagoe was also the victim of a shooting in 2020, when he was shot in the Rivierenbuurt. A few days later, the rapper’s mother’s home was shot at. Shortly after the rapper released a song about that shooting.
Yesterday in the studio
The rapper’s Instagram account shows that Bigidagoe was in the studio last night for recordings. The producer who was present wrote on Instagram this morning: ‘Don’t call, don’t ask anything’.
The family of rapper Bigidagoe is currently ‘not making any announcements’ about the situation. A spokesperson for The Fresh Agency, the office that books Bigidagoe’s performances, told the ANP.
According to Het Parool Bigidagoe was seen as the right-hand man of Joël H., alias Joey AK, the frontman of the rap formation. Members of this group are said to have been frequently linked to serious crime such as international drug trafficking and serious violence in recent years.
Hostage taking, extortion, assault
Lawyer Purperhart tells RTL News today that Bigidagoe has always said he is innocent. “My client was a hard-working artist. He did not agree with the allegations.”
The incident took place in September 2022. The victim allegedly drove around in a van for hours, was beaten and threatened with a firearm. Friends of his were said to have been called and threatened that if a ransom of 50,000 euros was not paid, the victim’s fingers would be cut off.
The victim tried to flee from a home in Zuidoost. During that escape attempt, he was beaten with a piece of wood. Local residents who saw this called the police, after which the suspects fled. The verdict in this case is scheduled for March 8.