Taxstone Officially Charged In Irving Plaza Shooting And Placed On House Arrest

On Tuesday (Jan. 17), we shared news that Taxstone's DNA was found on the gun used in the Irving Plaza shooting, and now he's officially been charged.

In a New York City courtroom, Assistant District Attorney Hagan Scotten said Tax fired the first shots in Irving Plaza that ultimately killed Troy Ave's bodyguard Ronald "Banga" McPhatter.

"He had a gun in his hand, and he murdered someone," said Scotten.

Not only does the DNA evidence suggest that Taxstone originally possessed the gun that Troy Ave was seen on tape firing, but the District Attorney has evidence that a Taxstone associate purchased the gun and imported it from Florida.

Despite that claim, the podcast host wasn't actually charged with murder, just illegal possession of a firearm. It's not clear if additional charges are forthcoming.

Troy's lawyers continued to say their client is innocent, and that he was merely defending himself when he fired shots inside the venue's greenroom.

"As we have said since May 25, 2016, Roland Collins did not enter Irving Plaza with a handgun the night of the T.I. concert," said attorney John Stella. "I view the charges brought today before the [court] as a positive step in the direction of true justice for what occurred at Irving Plaza that night."

Taxstone has been placed on house arrest, and the judge set bail at $500,000.

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