Update: On Saturday, police said Walmart has canceled the gift card giveaway. Tap here for details.
Just days after his guilty plea and release from jail, Atlanta rapper Gunna is planning to give out $100,000 to local families ahead of Christmas.
The “Pushin P” rapper, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, was one of 28 people charged in a sweeping Fulton County indictment alleging the group YSL is a criminal street gang responsible for much of Atlanta’s violence and mayhem in recent years.
The 29-year-old entered a negotiated plea to one count of conspiring to violate the state’s RICO act Wednesday in which he didn’t admit to committing a crime, but acknowledged it was in his best interest to take the state’s deal.
Today, 1,000 shoppers at the Walmart along Old National Highway will receive a $100 gift card and a “special gift” from the rapper between 1 and 4 p.m.
It’s the fifth year the musician has hosted Gunna’s Great Giveaway in his hometown and he is partnering with hunger relief company Goodr for the event.
A link to register for a gift card was posted to the musician’s Instagram, but demand was high and all 1,000 gift cards were claimed within hours.
The Grammy-nominated artist has partnered with Goodr for years, launching several free pop-up grocery stores in metro Atlanta, hosting annual back-to-school events and creating a free food and clothing store at Ronald McNair Middle School, where Gunna once attended.
“Much respect to Gunna who, no matter what, still finds a way to contribute to the community that raised him,” Goodr Founder and CEO Jasmine Crowe-Houston said in a statement. “We know that people will struggle unlike any other year this holiday season and it is our honor to maintain Gunna’s legacy of giving back.”
Kitchens, who had been in jail since his May arrest, entered what is known as an Alford plea ahead of next month’s high-profile trial. From the stand, he appeared to acknowledge that YSL, or Young Slime Life, is in fact a criminal street gang, though his attorneys contend he has not worked with prosecutors and will not testify against any co-defendants at trial.
“While I have agreed to always be truthful, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have NOT made any statements, have NOT been interviewed, have NOT cooperated, have NOT agreed to testify or be a witness for or against any party in the case and have absolutely NO intention of being involved in the trial process in any way,” Gunna said in a statement the day he was released.
With many on the internet labeling Gunna a “snitch” following his plea deal, the musician’s attorney and Young Thug’s sister have taken to social media to campaign on his behalf.
“Gunna did not snitch to get out of jail,” attorney Steve Sadow posted on Instagram Thursday, just hours after footage of his client on the stand went viral. “He has said nothing and is not cooperating. His plea statement cannot be used in court against any other defendant. So please stop spreading lies!!!”
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, remains behind bars along with most of the alleged YSL associates charged in the case.
Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com
Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com
Jury selection is set to begin Jan. 4, but with more than two dozen defendants and the state planning to call about 300 witness, Judge Ural Glanville estimates the trial could take nine months.
