Sauce Walka is recovering after being shot in broad daylight in downtown Memphis on Saturday (March 22).
The 34-year-old Houston rapper, born Albert Walker Mondane, was shot in the leg outside a hotel near Memphis’ FedExForum when a car with multiple people pulled up and began firing, TMZ reports. He is currently in the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
An unidentified man who was with Sauce at the time of the incident died from his injuries at the scene. The victim’s name has not been released. Memphis police are still searching for the shooters, who fled the scene in a white four-door vehicle.
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In a press conference on Saturday, Memphis authorities confirmed that investigators believe Walka and the other individual were specifically targeted by the gunmen. Police do not believe the attack was random.
“This appears to be a targeted shooting incident,” a Memphis Police representative said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “The victims were outside by a vehicle. The suspect vehicle pulled up. Multiple people got out of that vehicle, fired shots without engaging in any conversation, they got back into the white vehicle and fled.”
Individuals with information about the incident are urged to contact Memphis CrimeStoppers.
Sauce, a Houston native, began his hip-hop career in 2007 and has since released multiple mixtapes. He has collaborated with fellow Houston rappers, including Bun B, Lil’ Keke, Slim Thug and Travis Scott, as well as other hip-hop stars like A$AP Rocky and Migos.
In 2009, Walka was involved in another gun-related incident during a Trae Tha Truth concert. Police also connected him to gang activity in 2018, though he has denied the claims. “I know that I’m a record label, I know that I’m an artist… I’m not into gang activity or any of that stuff,” the rapper stated in response, according to the Houston Chronicle. In 2023, the rapper was reportedly arrested after leading Houston police on a car chase that ended in a crash.
