This archive report was first published on 12 July 2021.
On Saturday, a devastating drive-by ambush claimed the life of KTS Dre, a 31-year-old American rapper from Chicago. The shooting occurred just minutes after Dre was released from the Cook County Jail.
According to a police report, Dre was shot at least 64 times after being released from the jail. He was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police collected at least 59 shell casings from the scene following the shooting. A 60-year-old woman, who was with Dre during the ambush, was shot in the knee. Another woman nearby was grazed by a bullet.
The 60-year-old woman is believed to be Dre's mother, who had gone to pick him up from jail. After spraying bullets on Dre, the suspects then dashed back to their cars and drove in different directions, police said.
Police believe this was a planned attack, and Dre was clearly the intended target. "It appears Sylvester was the intended target while (the women) were inadvertently struck," said a police report.
"Sylvester had 'just been released' from custody and was walking alongside the 60-year-old woman 'to an awaiting vehicle when several unknown (suspects) exited two separate vehicles and all began to shoot in Sylvester's direction, striking him numerous times," the police report added.
Dre's sister took to social media to claim that the rapper was backstabbed by one of his close friends who must have set up the shooting. "They should not mourn him," she said. "Somebody gave his drop. No way they knew when he was getting out and walking out."
