Raleigh Freeman III, a 17-year-old rapper known as Rylo Huncho, from Suffolk, Virginia, died on May 16, 2024, after accidentally shooting himself while filming a music video for social media. The incident has left his family, friends, and the wider community in a state of shock.
The teenage rapper was in the process of producing content for his social media channels when the fatal incident occurred. A video posted on his Instagram story showed him handling a handgun, flaunting its green laser sight and flashlight. The video took an unexpected and deadly turn when Freeman aimed the gun at his own head, deactivated the safety, and fired, uttering, “F*** y’all n****s.” The gun went off, leading to his fatal injury.
According to the Suffolk Police, the 17-year-old succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Freeman was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The video showcasing the incident was subsequently removed from social media platforms, but not before triggering a wave of shock and sorrow among his followers and the local community.
Freeman, who had a following of 27,000 on Instagram and approximately 680 monthly listeners on Spotify, was recognized for his high-energy performances and music that often depicted violent and sexual themes. His tracks such as “Money Getta” and “DOA” contained lyrics about firearms and violence, portraying a tough persona admired by many young fans. However, his real life was markedly different from the online image he projected.
Monica Savage, Freeman’s mother, spoke to the local media about the heart-wrenching loss of her sole 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 recounted. She described her son as a promising rapper who had ambitions of a music career. “He had some nice music on YouTube. He raps really well,” she added.
Savage also stated that she was unaware of her son having a gun. “I didn’t know he had a gun,” she said. The investigation into how Freeman came into possession of the firearm and the exact circumstances leading to the accident is still underway.
Freeman’s family has initiated a GoFundMe page with a target of $15,000 to aid in covering his funeral costs. The page, set up by family members Monica Savage and Diane Bryant, reads, “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 fundraiser has so far gathered over $4500.
The community has extended considerable support to Freeman’s family. A teacher from his school, Kara Dorsey, shared her condolences and spoke about the incident’s impact on 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 have taken to social media to express their sorrow and defend Freeman against adverse comments. Twin Porter, a friend, 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 grieves the untimely death of a promising young artist, there is a growing demand for stricter measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
