A tragic accident took the life of a 17-year-old rapper from Virginia, Raleigh Freeman III, also known as Rylo Huncho, on May 16, 2024. He accidentally discharged a firearm while filming a music video in Suffolk, Virginia, causing a wave of shock and grief among his family, friends, and followers.

Freeman was filming for his social media channels when the incident occurred. A video uploaded to his Instagram story depicted him handling a handgun equipped with a green laser sight and flashlight. The fatal moment occurred when Freeman aimed the gun at his head, deactivated the safety, and fired while uttering, “F*** y’all n****s.”

The Suffolk Police confirmed that the 17-year-old suffered a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Freeman was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The disturbing video was subsequently removed from social media platforms.

Known for his vibrant performances, Freeman had a following of 27,000 on Instagram and approximately 680 monthly listeners on Spotify. His music, often filled with violent and sexual themes, was admired by many young fans. However, the image he projected through his lyrics contrasted sharply with his real-life experiences.

Freeman’s mother, Monica Savage, spoke with the local media about the loss of her only child. “When I came in the house and saw my son in his blood… I ran across the street, and I almost got hit by a car trying to save my son’s life,” she expressed. She described Freeman as a promising rapper with dreams of a successful music career. “He had some nice music on YouTube. He raps really well,” she added.

Savage was unaware that her son had possession of a gun. “I didn’t know he had a gun. I did not know he had that,” she revealed. The investigation into how Freeman acquired the firearm and the precise details of the accident is ongoing.

To assist with the funeral costs, the family has established a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $15,000. The page, coordinated by family members Monica Savage and Diane Bryant, states, “My aunt’s 17-year-old son recently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was her only child. She was a single mother who did her best to care for him.” The campaign has so far raised over $4500.

Freeman’s school community has also shown significant support. Kara Dorsey, one of his teachers, described the profound effect of the tragedy on the students. “Yesterday, our school community suffered a loss. Though I never met this young man, I met one of his close friends and older cousin today. They spent their lunch walking the halls quietly, asking staff members to share a GoFundMe to help his mother with the funeral expenses for her only child,” Dorsey wrote.

Friends and fans are using social media to express their sorrow and defend Freeman against negative comments. A friend named Twin Porter posted on Facebook, “It’s heartbreaking to receive a text saying he passed away, and it’s so wrong to hear the mean things people are saying about Railey. Please, God, give his mother the strength to cope with her pain.”

As the community comes to terms with the loss of a young talent, there are increasing calls for stricter measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.