Rapper ‘Young Greatness’ Shot Dead at New Orleans Waffle House

A rapper known as “Young Greatness” was fatally shot at a New Orleans Waffle House early in the morning on Oct. 29.

The 34-year-old artist, whose was born Theodore Jones, was found lying face down outside the restaurant on the 2900 block of Elysian Fields Avenue by police at around 1:35 a.m. He appeared to have been shot in the back, and died at the scene.

One of Jones’s friends told local media that he was surprised that this kind of thing would happen to him.

“You wouldn’t expect that comin,‘ happenin’ with him, you know, ‘cause dude wasn’t in to nothin’ but his music and his daughters. He wasn’t in to nothin' else, man,” his friend Mos said.

The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) said the victim’s car had been stolen from the restaurant, but was recovered before noon on Monday. A motive for the crime, such as robbery, has not yet been announced.

The NOPD said there were possibly two suspects at the scene. The department released a picture of a “person of interest” in the case, who appeared to be a black male wearing a white shirt and a dark colored hat.

Homicide Detective Brett Mathes is in charge of the investigation and asked anyone with information about the incident to call 504-658-5300. People can also call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.

Jones was signed with Cash Money Records, and he was known for his popular single “Moolah,” which reached No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016. He even performed the song on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

The video for “Moolah” was set in New Orleans, his hometown. However, after Hurricane Katrina, he moved to Houston, Texas.

The rapper was listed as one of 10 hot new artists in 2016 by Rolling Stone. He told the magazine that he left a life on the streets to pursue his music career.

“I wanted to make it so bad I was willing to accept the change and have faith in God, you heard me? During that period, I just stayed in the studio,” he said.