Daryl “Taxstone” Campbell was arraigned in a New York City court on Tuesday in connection to the Irving Plaza concert shooting that left one man dead and Troy Ave with a bullet to his leg. The successful hip-hop podcaster was arrested at his aunt’s home in Brooklyn on Monday after authorities found Taxstone’s DNA on the weapon used to kill Troy Ave friend and bodyguard, Ronald “Banga” McPhatter.
While no one has been charged with McPhatter’s murder as of yet, Assistant District Attorney Hagan Scotten reportedly said Taxstone was the man behind the shooting. “He had a gun in his hand and he murdered someone,” Scotten said in court on Tuesday while arguing against releasing Tax on bail.
Tax, a convicted felon, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and received a firearm by interstate commerce. As DNAinfo reports, investigators were able to track the semiautomatic, 9-mm Kel-Tec pistol used in a shooting to a man in Flordia. The man told police he originally sold the gun to one of Taxstone’s friends.
Hip-hop fans weren’t the only ones listening to the 31-year-old’s Taxseason podcast. Prosecutors were all ears when Tax repeatedly trolled Troy Ave.
Prosecutors used statements that Campbell made on his podcast, including times he repeatedly mocked Troy Ave, whose real name is Roland Collins. In one, he doubted Troy Ave’s willingness to open fire on a rival.
“I can protect myself as a man, so I’m not thinking about rolling with six goons,” prosecutors quoted Campbell in the statements made prior to the shooting.
“When I see you walking up with six dudes, bang-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba…I want to embarrass somebody, and that’s why I started bullying Troy Ave, you know what I mean?”
With his past statements, felony record for armed robbery and “self-proclaimed past as a member of the Bloods street gang,” prosecutors wanted Tax to be held without bond. Instead, bail was set for $500,000, an amount his lawyer Kenneth Montgomery says will be handled in one week.
Tax will be limited to his home and will have to wear an ankle monitor. The good news for his fans, however, is that he’ll be able to leave his crib to record his Taxseason podcast.
His next court date has been set for Feb. 16.
