Northeast Ohio rapper shot and killed in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Cleveland police say detectives are investigating the murder of a local musician that happened Sunday inside an apartment.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Carlos Banks.

Also known by stage name KashBankx, the 28-year-old had amassed thousands of social media followers with his rap career.

Cleveland police say officers were called out to investigate a person shot around 4 a.m. Sunday on Broadway Avenue in the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood.

They arrived to find Banks shot multiple times inside the apartment at 5115 The Rising.

Cleveland EMS pronounced him dead on the scene.

There’s been no word on arrests at this time.

A lot of theories are circling the internet and police tell 19 News they’re looking into each one of them, but they can’t confirm anything at this time.

“The community is obviously in tune to it and safety is everyone’s responsibility,” said Cleveland Police Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz. “So we ask that the community come forward if you have any information”.

19 News spoke with community journalist Jaylyn King who says he’s interviewed Banks multiple times about his music career.

“Normally Cleveland has a set sound that’s really repetitive,’ said King. “He (Banks) was one that stood out and was very different than other artists”.

King told 19 News people have been contacting him with possible leads.

“The people really believe because of his fame and his name that it was a targeted attack,” said King. “Because he is flashy on social media and he is an artist”.

King has been encouraging people to reach out to police with their tips.

“This is big because he touched and influenced so many people,” said King “Even outside of music”.

The murder remains under investigation by Cleveland police.

“We want justice, and he deserves justice,” said King. “This was more than a rapper, this is a human being,”.

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