Authorities say Grammy Award-winning rapper Jay Rock was arrested Thursday night near the Watts Public Housing Complex, where he grew up and booked allegedly illegal gun ownership.
The 39-year-old rapper's legal name is Johnny Reed McKinzie, who was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department at 5:20 p.m. in the 13,000 block of East 115 Street.
The spokesman said he was scheduled to possess a firearm in case of alleged violation of Section 29800(a)(1) of the California Penal Code, which prohibits felony convictions, active felony orders or certain misdemeanor beliefs. This is a felony charge that can be sentenced to up to three years in prison.
Information about his next court appearance was not immediately available.
McKinzy was initially arrested at the Nixon Garden Public Housing Apartment Building for alleged trespassing and drinking, police sources told NBC4. The news station reported that he ran away from the car and police found a gun inside.
In videos of the incident shared on social media, the rapper can be heard saying, “You don’t even know what I’m drinking.”
McKinzie won a Grammy for the 2019 rap performance alongside Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake. In May of that year, he was awarded the key to his hometown Watt by then Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino.
During the ceremony, Buscaino announced “Jay Rock Day” on May 24 and said McKinzie “has made a huge contribution to future success by giving back to the success of future generations,” a report by radio station Power 106 said.
