Russian mobster Mani Chulpayev is one of three people in custody for the murder of rapper Lil Phat, a fourth suspect has not been caught yet.
Atlanta’s Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland exposed Chulpayev’s illegal dealings at his Atlanta car lot, and according to HipHopNews24-7 “Authorities said Lil Phat was involved in one of those deals. “I termed it an assassination,” District Attorney Paul Howard told Strickland about the killing. The shooting happened June 7, 2012, in a parking ramp at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. Howard says Lil Phat, born Melvin Vernell III, was there and about to become a father. He was sitting in an Audi A7 when he was shot repeatedly.Howard said Lil Phat got the car from Chulpayev and that Chulpayev used a GPS tracker to locate the victim. Chulpayev is accused of ordering a contract killing, using two gunmen from Alabama.”He was stalked by these two hit men. It was planned,” Howard said.Howard said Lil Phat had told police only two days earlier Chulpayev had also leased him a BMW that had been reported stolen. Lil Phat was pulled over for speeding in April and was subsequently charged with receiving a stolen car.Howard said silencing the rapper was at least part of the motive.”
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R.I.P. Lil Phat