‘This one hurts’: Celebrities and friends mourn the life of rapper killed in Nashville; MNPD identify suspect

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A beloved mentor, friend, and rapper is dead after a shooting in Midtown over the weekend.

Police identified the victim as Christopher Cheeks. His stage name is Chris King.

Police said a group of robbers approached him and his friends early Saturday morning in Midtown Nashville, shooting and killing him. One of his friends was injured.

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Celebrities like Justin Bieber are mourning the loss of Chris King.

Bieber posted on his Instagram story, “Love you, bro. This one hurts. Please keep his family in your prayers. See you in paradise, brother.”

Trippie Redd also posted to Instagram, “I am so hurt right now I can’t even think. I love you, bro. Come back!!!!! I can’t catch a break.”

“He was just following Trippie Redd’s footsteps basically,” Friend and mentee of Chris King, Maynor Acip, said. “He had something that every artist has in common, which is a dream as a kid.”

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Maynor told News 2 that Chris King was his mentor and friend, taking him under his wing to collaborate with a mix tape.

“He would get stuff done,” Maynor said. “Like he was not normal. His consistency working was a great thing and that inspired me.”

According to an Instagram post from Chris King, he said he was in Nashville to perform at the Cannafestival.

Maynor told News 2 he was supposed to be traveling to Nashville with Chris King this weekend but said he couldn’t make the trip.

So, waking up Saturday morning, the last thing Maynor expected was to hear that his friend was dead.

“I call my friend. I was like, ‘Yo, can you check up on Chris?'” Maynor explained. “‘He’s not answering his phone.’ He said, ‘Brother, I am so sorry for your loss. He passed away.'”

“He was always the guy you would reach out to for help, and he would grant you that,” Maynor said. “So, I hope everybody remembers him as a great guy and a great rapper. Yeah, it’s hard to lose a rapper, but it’s also hard to lose a friend.”

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At around 7:15 p.m. Monday, April 22, police identified 19-year-old Adrian Cameron Jr. as one of the suspects responsible for Chris King’s death.

Police said a criminal homicide warrant was sworn out for Cameron Jr. after he was identified as one of the three suspects involved in the shooting.

At the time of the shooting, Cameron Jr. was out on bond for the September 2021 murder of 50-year-old Josh Evans, according to investigators. In that case, Cameron Jr. allegedly shot and killed Evans and dumped his body in the Cumberland River. Authorities recovered Evans’ body from the river on Sept. 13, 2021. That criminal homicide case was transferred from Juvenile Court to Criminal Court.

Cameron Jr.’s father, Adrian Cameron Sr., was wanted for questioning in the murder of Evans and was killed during an officer-involved shooting at a Nashville motel on Sept. 18, 2021, according to police. He was 47 years old.

Officials said as part of his bond conditions, Cameron Jr. was on an ankle monitor. Data from the monitor shows it was cut off shortly after Saturday’s shooting.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts or on the identifies of the other suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward.

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