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The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office on Monday identified the man who deputies say shot at them before turning his gun on himself.
Up-and-coming rapper Marcus Pettis, 23, was in a car that was stopped by deputies around 4 p.m. Friday near Evergreen Drive and Ninth Street in Lake Park, north of West Palm Beach.
Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Frank DeMario, at a news conference Friday, said Pettis shot at deputies and that they returned fire, but did not hit Pettis. DeMario said Pettis fled and then fatally shot himself.
DeMario said the sheriff’s office had probable cause to arrest Pettis in connection with a murder investigation but wouldn’t provide any additional information.
Records show Pettis lived in Riviera Beach.
Attempts to reach family and neighbors of Pettis were unsuccessful Monday.
Pettis was identified on social media as a local rapper who went by the stage name Money Mitch. Friends and fans shared words of grief across social media. “Bra I’m sorry I couldn’t save you,” popular Atlanta-based rapper Lil’ Baby wrote on his Instagram story.
The two deputies involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, as is standard procedure. They were not injured in the shooting, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to additional questions.
