Raymond Scott (AKA Benzino), part of VH1's most popular show "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta," had been in a long-standing feud with his nephew and half sister before the nephew allegedly shot him during a funeral procession Saturday for his mom, according to his business partner Dave Mays Sunday.
Mays was on his way to meet Benzino when he heard about the shooting. Fortunately, he said, Benzino's injuries are not fatal. One bullet entered his arm and broke a bone. Another grazed his back. Mays said he expects Benzino to leave the South Shore Hospital today or tomorrow.
Gai Scott, Benzino's nephew, was arrested and accused of armed assault with intent to murder.
The original AP story was accurate, he said, except Benzino is no longer a Boston resident. He lives in Atlanta.
Mays said Benzino's mother Mary Scott had died a week earlier. Benzino flew up to Boston to wish her goodbye but had no plans to attend the funeral because of issues with the family members involved.
Mays said the feud started several years ago when Benzino helped buy a house for his mother. His sister Maureen, he believes, stole money from his mom. This created a rift, Mays said, although he never pursued any criminal investigation because he didn't want to upset his mom.
He said Benzino is suspicious of his mom's death and is seeking toxicology reports. At the same time, Mays said Benzino's sister controlled the funeral so he chose not to attend. Instead, he visited the funeral home privately. The funeral was scheduled for noon Saturday in Plymouth, Mass. At 11:30 a.m., Benzino called Mays, asking him to help him book the earliest flight to Atlanta.
Then Benzino heard his friend Stevie J came into town to surprise him so he decided to stay. "It really picked up his spirits," Mays said. Benzino decided to go pick Stevie J up and planned to visit the cemetery later in the day.
Unfortunately, Benzino coincidentally ran into the funeral procession and drove up next to his nephew's vehicle. That's when Gai Scott allegedly shot him.
Benzino got out of the car and ran up to the hearse where his mother's casket was held and his sister was in seeking help. They locked the door on him and kept driving. "There are pictures of the hearse with Benzino's blood on it," Mays said. An aunt finally took pity on him and let him inside her car and drove him to the hospital.
Mays said the doctors plan to keep the bullet in Benzino's arm, a not-so-pleasant souvenir from the incident. "God is good," Mays said. "He could be dead."
Christopher Coughlin, who is Gai Scott's attorney, said his client would plead not guilty to the charge of armed assault with intent to murder. Coughlin declined to comment further, citing attorney-client privilege; but he indicated that defense attorneys may dispute Raymond Scott's account of the incident.
Benzino lived in Boston a long time. It's where he created the Source, a hot hip-hop magazine back in the day, with Mays. The Globe story recounts some of Benzino's past controversies.
Mays and Benzino, along with Stevie J, are still dealing with problems related to their downtown bar and business partners, Mays said. The business partners filed for bankruptcy protection, which will make it more difficult for them to take over the space. So they are seeking a new location instead, Mays said. (Details of the dispute are here.)
"Love & Hip Hop Atlanta," which is taping now, is scheduled to return for a third season next month on VH1.
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