Bond denied for man accused of killing Atlanta rapper

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By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A man accused of killing Atlanta rapper Slim Dunkin was denied bond Tuesday in a Fulton County Court.

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Atlanta rapper Young Vito, whose real name is Vinson Hardimon, is a suspect in the slaying of Atlanta rapper Slim Dunkin, whose real name is Mario Hamilton and was killed Dec. 16 after being gunned down at a southeast Atlanta recording studio.

Atlanta Police Department Atlanta rapper Young Vito, whose real name is Vinson Hardimon, is a suspect in the slaying of Atlanta rapper Slim Dunkin, whose real name is Mario Hamilton and was killed Dec. 16 after being gunned down at a southeast Atlanta recording studio.

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Vinson Hardimon, 28, also known as Young Vito, was returned to the Fulton County Jail on murder and gun possession charges Tuesday following probable cause and bond hearings.

“I put up the testimony of two witnesses,” Atlanta police homicide Detective David Quinn told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, referring to his contribution in court.

Quinn also pointed to other factors that allegedly put Hardimon at the scene of the crime.

“His laptop was left behind with his name on it,” Quinn said. “And his name was on the dry-erase board as next up to rap.”

The slaying happened at a video shoot in a Memorial Drive studio the evening of Dec. 16. Witnesses told investigators that Dunkin, whose real name was Mario Hamilton, was shot in the chest during a fight that apparently started over a piece of candy, police said.

Investigators said they believe Hardimon was the man who argued with Dunkin, eventually pulling out a pistol and firing at the young rapper.

Atlanta police put out an alert to be on the lookout for Hardimon. Through the media, police advised Hardimon to turn himself in, warning that his life might be in danger.

Hardimon has been arrested at least four times in Fulton County, dating to 2004 on charges that included some kind of gun violation, according to jail records. In his most recent arrest, in April 2011, charges included aggravated assault, cruelty to children and gun offenses.