Rapper Troy Ave Testifies Against Taxstone About Deadly Concert

NYC- Rapper Troy Ave testified in front of jurors Monday in podcaster Taxstone’s murder trial.

Troy Ave, whose real name is Roland Collins, testified that he chose to fight back after he was shot and wounded in the deadly 2016 shooting that left his bodyguard dead and 2 wounded at a T.I. concert at Irving Plaza.

“If it’s fight or flight I’m always going to fight because at that point you could die,” Troy Ave said in Manhattan Supreme Court, according to the New York Post.

The 37-year-old rapper described fighting with Taxstone.

“When the shot goes off I see the light from the spark and I hear the shot,’ he testified. “This is all happening fast. I get up and start fighting Taxstone, trying to take him, grab the gun, and another shot goes off. I put my leg up to kind of block the shot from hitting me in the face or chest, reports The Post.

He said that’s when Taxstone shot him in both of his legs.

“I’d rather die fighting. People die from leg shots. I’d rather die fighting than laying on the ground. I got up immediately,’ the outlet reports.

Troy Ave said when he did grab the gun, it misfired.

It was then that he realized his bodyguard was shot, lying face down on the floor.

Taxstone was initially charged with attempted murder, and gun possession charges.

He’s now on trial for murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons possession charges.