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Troy Ave Testifies Against Taxstone in Murder Trial
In 2017, podcast personality Taxstone, born Daryl Campbell, was arrested by U.S. Marshals New York, New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force and NYPD in connection to the shooting that took place at Irving Plaza back in 2016 which resulted in the death of Troy Ave’s bodyguard, Ronald “Banga” McPhatter, and rapper Troy Ave being arrested, in which the rapper was freed on $500,000 bail.
Campbell was arrested in January 2017 after his DNA was found on the 9 mm handgun used in the shooting. He has remained incarcerated since, after being denied $500,000 bail, and pleading guilty to two federal weapons counts. However, it has now been revealed that he is facing murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons possession charges.
On Monday, March 13, Campbell was seen for the first time since his incarceration in the Manhattan Supreme Court room as he watch rapper Troy Ave, born Roland Collins, give his account of what happened during the shooting on May 25, 2016.
The NY Post, who was in the courtroom, gives a breakdown of Collins’ testimony where the rapper says he had to fight for his life.
“It looks like if you see people wrestle in high school wrestling — that type of position,” said Collins. “When the shot goes off I see the light from the spark and I hear the shot,” he testified. “This is all happening fast. I get up and start fighting Taxstone, trying to take him, grab the gun, and another shot goes off. I put my leg up to kind of block the shot from hitting me in the face or chest.”
Campbell then reportedly shot Collins in both legs. “I got up,” Collins said. “I’d rather die fighting. People die from leg shots. I’d rather die fighting than laying on the ground. I got up immediately.”
When Collins’ gun misfired, it was then that he noticed his bodyguard, McPhatter, laying face down on the ground.
“I rolled his body over and I’m like, ‘Banga, get up. Come on.’ I’m smacking him, like, ‘C’mon bro. Get up,’” Collins testified. “And his eyes were rolling to the back of his head. His shirt was red so I could tell he got shot.”