Lil Tjay Undergoing Emergency Surgery After Shooting

Just after midnight on Wednesday, Lil Tjay was shot in Edgewater, New Jersey. The rapper is now in emergency surgery.

New York rapper Lil Tjayis in emergency surgery after being shot in Edgewater just after midnight on Wednesday (June 22). According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, authorities are currently investigating the shooting, where the 21-year-old rapper, real name Tione Merritt, and another 22-year-old were shot.

On 12:08 on Wednesday, officers responded to the report of a shooting at The Promenade shopping center outside a Chipotle, while another victim was found at nearby Exxon Gas station with a single gunshot wound. While the identity of the second victim has not been confirmed, law enforcement sources have also confirmed that Merritt is in emergency surgery.

“Both victims were transported to an area hospital where they are being treated," Prosecutor Mark Musella said.

Since the shooting, Edgewater police and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office were at the shopping center just after 7 AM. While there, the teams were investigating blood-stain towels and a bullet hole in the driver's window of a red Dodge Durango. Per TMZ, suspects are still at large.

In May, Lil Tjay was featured with Kaash Paige on her new single "24 Hrs," releasing his new single "Goin Up" thereafter. Lil Tjay's most recent album Destined 2 Win was released last April.

Lil Tjay was a close friend and collaborator to fellow New York rapper Pop Smoke, who was shot and killed in February 2020. Shortly after Pop Smoke's his death, Lil Tjay released tribute song “Forever Pop."