: CINCINNATI (AP) — Rapper T.I. testified Friday that he believes the bullets fired at his entourage during a wild vehicle chase two years ago were meant for him.
He took the witness stand in the trial of Hosea Thomas, 34, who is accused of firing the shot that killed Philant Johnson during a gun battle on Interstate 75.
"All of those rounds were fired for me, in my opinion," he said, adding that he later apologized to Johnson's mother when he called her with the news.
Testifying for the prosecution, T.I. described seeing Johnson, whom he called his best and oldest friend, after their van pulled over. He said Johnson was lying lifeless, blood running down his face from a shot into his left temple.
Johnson was an assistant to T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris.
T.I., 28, said he and Johnson had grown up together in Atlanta and their families were close friends.
The shooting occurred after a post-concert party at a club. T.I. said after his van drove away, he spotted another vehicle that seemed to be trying to move up alongside the van.
"Before I knew it, shots rang out," said T.I, acknowledging that someone returned fire from his van as he took cover. He didn't identify any shooters.
T.I. wasn't harmed, but three others were injured. T.I. testified that he received no response when he called out Johnson's name.
He said that after calling Johnson's mother, he talked to Johnson's young daughter, whom he said was 4 or 5 years old.
"I told her that he was gone to a better place and he won't be coming back. And I told her how much he loved her," he said.
T.I. spoke calmly and directly for a little over a half hour on the stand in a packed, small courtroom in the Hamilton County courthouse.
Prosecutors say Thomas' brother has identified him as the shooter. Padron Thomas was driving a Jeep that allegedly chased the vans used by T.I. and his entourage on May 3, 2006.
Hosea Thomas' attorney said Padron Thomas is testifying against his brother to earn a lesser sentence on federal charges.
T.I. has had his own legal problems. He was sentenced to one year in prison on federal weapons charges after his arrest in October 2007 before the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta for allegedly trying to buy automatic weapons. He is to start his sentence in March after completing 1,000 hours of community service.
THIS IS CLEARLY NOT ABOUT SNITCHING PEOPLE. I'M FROM THE NATI AND I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE ONE OF TIP'S BIGGEST FANS AND FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WHERE I LIVE HURTS ME CAUSE I KNOW HE WILL PROBABLY NEVER COME BACK (AND WHO CAN BLAME HIM?)THESE IGNORANT FOOLS TRIED TO KILL HIM AND HIS BEST FRIEND WAS MURDERED IN THE PROCESS. TI IS DOING THE RIGHT THING AND I HOPE THE FOOL WHO DID IT BURNS IN THE FLAMES OF HELL.
I don't see anything that he say's that would indicate that he was a snitch. He is describing the situation that occured, not who did it, bc he didn't know who *** at them, he just knows that his bestfriend was killed in the process. Some of these reader's need to read before you respond to over half of what you read.
This is good more people should tell what they see in our communites this is why we have so many senseless killing because people in our neighborhoods dont tell and give the thugs room to continue sensless violent crimes. Becuase we don't tell, the drugdealers and such take over our communities. GOOD for you T.I. what if it was your friend or family member?
MANNNN YALL WANNABE GANGSTAZ ON A BLOG NEED TO SIT DOWN SOMEWHERE! ALL THAT SNITCHIN *** IS OLD AND STUPID. HERE'S A MAN THAT WAS A TARGET OF GUN FIRE AND HIS RIGHT HAND MAN GETS KILLED AND ALL U DUMB *** CAN SAY IS "SNITCH"?????? IT SHOWS YOUR INTELLIGENT LEVEL CLEARLY. OK OK I GET U NOT NO PUNK UH, IS THAT IT? U JUST A BRAVEHEART *** THAT DO THAT CHARLES BRONSON JUSTICE UH? WHATEVER *** SIT YO *** DOWN. I DON'T CARE IF T.I. SAID THE GUY NAME, POINTED HIM OUT IF U *** MY MAN, MY BOY OR ANYONE I KNOW OR EVEN DIDN'T KNOW THAT WELL OR AT ALL I'M GOING TO TELL THE *** LIKE IT IS AND WAS. SEE THAT'S WHY BLACK GHETTO'S ARE LIKE THEY ARE NOW. PPL AFRAID TO WALK DOWN THE STREET WHEN ALL U HAVE TO DO IS GET THE KILLERS OUT YO HOOD BUT NAWWWWW U RATHER LET THE 12 YEAR GET *** BY A STRAY *** OR ON PURPOSE AND DON'T SAY NOTHING CUZ LIKE THE LATE BERNIE MAC SAID ABOUT THE BROTHERS IN PRISON "I AIN'T NO PUNK, I AIN'T NO SNITCH" *** THAT *** I LOVE MY FAMILY MORE THEN SOME *** LAME CODE. MY FAMILY COMES FIRST NOT DOING 30 YEARS FOR SOMEONE ELSE. ANYWAY *** ALL THAT TALKING THAT SNITCH ***. MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK AND ENOUGH WITH THE *** ***.
PLUS THESE DUMB *** BROTHERS ARE TOO *** OLD TO BE GOING AROUND CHASING RAPPERS VANS TO *** AT THEM. THESE BROTHERS ARE LIKE 40 YEARS OF AGE. WHEN THIS *** FIRST WENT DOWN UP UNTIL THEY CAUGHT THE GUYS THIS YEAR. I THOUGHT THEY WERE SOME 20 YEAR OLDS BUT THESE GUYS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER SO *** THEM AND LET THEM ROT IN JAIL.
4 EVERYBODY ON HERE WHO SAYIN T.I. SNITCHED NEEDS TO *** THA *** UP ON SUM FAREAL ***!! HE WAS NOT SNITCHING OR ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES OF THAT. THIS IS HIS BEST FRIEND THAT WAS KILLED AND HE JUS TRYNA BRING JUSTICE TO THE WHOLE SITUATION. ALL CAUSE OF SUM PEOLE WHO WAS BEING WRECKLESS ABOUT THEY ***. THEN PEOPLE WONDER WY WE DONT HAVE NOTHING NO MORE. THESE 40+ AGE OLD MEN STILL TRYNA ACT LIKE THEY HALF THEY AGE AND ITS SAD CAUSE THE YOUNG BOYS GROWING UP IS THINKIN ITS OKAY.WE GOTTA CHANGE FOR THE BETTER YALL CAUSE THIS IS OUTTA CONTROL.
Aint he snitchin? no indeed! i knew my boo wouldnt let me down. he past music is not the issue because on paper trail he isnt even on so kill a *** type ***. he has changed so much. im proud he is actin like a grown man instead of some lil punk. im also glad he chose not to do philant and his family a great disservice by not testifying to make some idiots who dont know what snitchin is feel better. and by the way snitching is when you in cahoots with someone and you get caught and say "well so and so did it too..now get me off." and all plea's are public record. gogle u.s department of justice and type t.i. name in a search engine and you can find out if he snitched or not. love you t.i.!!!!!
SNITCHES ONLY applies if you are affliated with the person you are telling on....gang, mob and so on....
SNITCHES IS NOT ordinary people reporting a CRIME!!!
That snitching sh!t was MADE BY CRIMINALS to scare people and get away wit crime and murders...Everytime somebody goes to court THEY ARE NOT A SNITCH AND NEITHER IS T.I.!!!
Technically... WHAT T.I DID IS SNITCHING!!!!
Let me explain something to you;
Whenever you are supeanaed (excuse the spelling) to testify in court you YOU ARE A WITNESS FOR THE PRSECUTION!!!!! No one can make you do ANYTHING you dont want to do. T.I could have pled the 5th and got a few more months. He made the decision to talk to the police.
T.I was in a club and had a beef with some people that hes crew did not want permmitted in V.I.P. This lead to a beef/fight/confrontation... They were fighting, the other side had guns and was "playing for keeps"; Thats all apart of the game. They were out gunned and someone they were with got killed AND HES TELLING ON THEM! He is telling the police what happend!
THATS A SNITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You dont have a beef and fight with someone and some up *** AND TELL!!!!
THATS SNITCHING!!!!
Now.... Im a girl, im not into the streets so I dont live by the "g code" I think its ignorant and doesnt help us as a people. If my best friend was murdered I WOULD WANT JUSTICE...
So with that said, Im not hating on T.I.
I THINK HE DID THE RIGHT THING...
But dont try to defend this in terms of the "G CODE"
Because T.I IS SNITCHING! 100%
ANY QUESTIONS????
Another Thing...
In case you guys dont remember; this very same thing happened to Busta Rhymes. REMEMBER?
His very close friend and Bodygaurd was MURDERED at a video *** when they had an altercation with someone outside of it. Remember?
HE WOULD NOT HOLD A CONVERSATION WITH POLICE FOR LONGER THAN 60SEC!
Thats because he got into a beef and REFUSED TO BE A SNITCH!
Busta Rhymes is from BROOKLYN NY... NY [EXPLETIVE] mentallity is waaaay different about these sort of things. This is snitching by all terms of the definitions. If you dont know about the streets or the G CODE you dont understand and you will be in denial about T.I being what some call a "snitch"
Let me define it for you all again...
Anyone who takes the stan, is a witness for the prosecution. PERIOD! If you go to a club and have a beef/fight; thats street/beef related. Someone on your sides comes up ***. Meaning; they get beat up badly or even killed is considered a LOSS!
It is AGAINST the "g code" to take the stand and acknowledge that a crime was commited against you that involved a beef.
T.I by street definition is totally a SNITCH! Anyone who knows the streets or anything about the streets knows this is SNITCHING!
Im not hating on T.I cause again, I would have done the same thing. Hes doing the right thing!
BUT THIS IS SNITCHING! And yall bloggers can feel however yall want about it...
@Ilove Cameron Your post is so utterly stupid. What if you and your friend or either your mother Lets' say got in to an altercation with a person who had a I dont give a F$$*** attitude and he blasted your mother or your best friend over a senseless argument you would not say anything? come on now. It was wrong and the bottom line is black men kill each other for no reason because they are protected by us meaning people in thier community wo dont want to talk to the police come on... think about it if someone near and dear to you was murdered for no reason you would tell/Snitch if not, then you are no friend because your loyalty is to the streets and the streets dont care about no body. Stop being a hood booger and grow up you can't be ghetto forever.
OK, WE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT TI DIDN'T NAME NAMES OR POINT FINGERS SO HE DIDN'T SNITCH. BUT IF HE DID TELL THE TRUTH (AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET U FREE) I WOULDN'T BLAME HIM BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT TO LOSE IF THAT PUNK WANTS CATCH TI OFF GUARD AND KILL HIM. WE ALREADY LOST 2PAC AND BIGGIE AMONG OTHERS. IF MORE PPL WOULD COME FORWARD, THESE TRAGEDIES WOULDN'T HAPPEN AS FREQUENTLY.
@ Mrsbigdog...
I think you need to learn how to read. I think you need to re read my comment ENTIRLY!
I said he did the right thing. Im not hating! I would do exactly what he did. Im not mad at T.T. Did you not read that? lol
If someone blasted my best firend away or mother away rather I was involved or not I would tell. Like I said; I dont live by the "g code" cause I also think its stupid!
But my mother or friend getting into a fight and being killed is DIFFERENT from US provoking a beef in a club; fighting and instigating as well. Then taking the stan when someone gives us what we asked for! Then claiming to be street and living byu the "g code"... HES NOT!
Im not hating on T.I cause again, I WOULD DO THE SAME THING! I said that the first time before you went on your silly rant! lol
But some people REALLY REALLY live by the "g code" and wouldnt at all do what T.I did. And I gave you an example....
BUSTA RHYMES!!! The EXACT EXACT same thing happened to him. His bestfriend was murdered. He did NOT NOT NOT talk to police.Im not saying he did the right thing or is better than T.I. Im simply saying...
THATS THE "G CODE"! THIS IS NOT!
I know that some are not going to like this and I am really not trying to take *** at anybody on this board, but I am so tired of people yelling out that stop snitching sh!t because it is the same ***!ggas that sell that poison in the street, it's them same ***!ggas that cheat on their ladies left, right, and sideways and spread that disease sh!t, and it's them same ***!ggas that will run up in your house and take sh!t that don't belong to them. All of a sudden people have morals when it comes to snitching but all that other dirty sh!t is acceptable. So we are supposed to just keep covering up senseless violence? That code of street has done nothing accept increase the death rate of black people so I say f*ck the code.
I have come to the conclusion that some of the people on here are dumb as brick dust.. *** of all WHAT THE *** IS the G-CODE... Dont sit here and speak on any codes if your not from the streets. There is *** codes anywhere that said do not give a statement. Look at Gotti, Abbandando, Bonanno, Capone, DeCicco, Esposito, Fischetti, Genovese, Indelicato, and Luciano.... all of which had to testify, but didnt SNITCH. Yall young azz middle to upper income dummies come on here and try to talk the talk. But dont know ***. Havent left the suburbs and mommies and daddies house. But claim the streets, when ya know as soon as mom and dad find out you have been hangin in the hood, your beemer will be taken away... So I love Cameron sit it down, cause your name alone speaks volumes. (SOUNDS VERY NU-NU ish)... 2ndly Master teacher Im a MASON and i will say people fear what they do not understand, and your post says this whole heartily, anyone that doesnt know try to associate things that they do know with those that they do not.... What does the "G" stand for in the masonic emblem??? It has been told and taught fear what you do not know cause it "COULD" be bad for you. Sounds like hate from one that wasnt able to become a MASON.... And lastly "G" code: "Gansta" code - NO "Goon" code - NO "Gang" code - NO "Gutta" code - NO "G" code - Yes (just something that sounds "HOOD" for suburbanites)
as for the "G" on the mason emblem, always put "G"OD first..... Now dunces put on your "DUNCE CAP" and sit your azz in the corner.......
I've seen gang members turn on everyone when they are facing 25 years. Everybody is tough until you get caught. Then you realize you life is over if you don't snitch. Don't belive anyone on here who says they would not snitch on someone. They are lying and trying to seem tough. Get the hell outa here. You soft as a babys ***. If you was tough you would'nt be in a gang, you would'nt rob your own *** people. You would'nt do home invasions, you would'nt spray people homes with ak47's. If you was tough you would always try to do the right thing." Ghost"
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY NEED TO JUMP ON.....THE WORD SNITCH IS A BIG DOWNFALL IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
IF WE PUT MORE FOCUS ON OUR YOUTH AND LET THEM KNOW THE WORD SNITCH IS NOT A BAD WORD AND THEY ARE NOT TO BE CONSIDERED LAME OR NOT COOL IF THEY DID TELL SOMETHING.....WE LOSE SO MANY LIVES OVER SOMETHING SO SENSELESS.....
I JUST WISH ALL THE FOLKS THAT I SEE ON HERE DAILY BLOGGING AND TRYING TO BE FUNNY ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT A LOT OF THESE THINGS....THE BLACK COMMUNITY WILL NEVER CHANGE...AND THE REST OF THE RACES WILL STILL SEE US AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE....
I get so tried of hearing someone talking about being a snitch, when most of you folks don’t know what a snitch is. The street code of a snitch is someone who is into the streets, that’s doing crimes and snitching on someone else that’s doing crimes or on his partner’s in crime. THAT’S SNITCHIN!! Telling and snitching is not the same. Real Gangsters and Thugs know that regular folks are going to tell on them, if you do something in front of them, that’s to be expected. But Gangsters and Thugs supposed to be able to do things in front of each other, and not get told on, IT DON’T MATTER WHAT IT IS! True Street cats RYDE LIVE and DIE by the street codes. And you folks who are acting like you’re into the streets (CRIME) STOP IT! Be yourself isn’t nothing wrong with it. The streets will hurt you sooner or later. And no, TI is not snitching. Black and Brown Unity! Love All
The best way to stand up to violence is to put those who perpetuate it in jail. If you say nothing, you perpetuate it yourself. TI is not a snitch and neither is any other person who tells when someone commits a crime. Because truth be told, even if it wasn't your mother or sister, it was someone's mother or sister, and it is not just their problem. Because when that same person guns down your mother or sister, then its your problem. Treat crime the way that it should be, a crime against the public. How is it read in court, the people vs. so and so, so please people. Stop the ignorance. Who made up this code and why are black people so adamant about it? What has this code gotten us but dead sons, irresponsible fathers, wayward mothers, and nonsense daily?
