Young Scooter died on his 39th birthday on March 28, 2025. That day, the rapper was hospitalized after reportedly trying to escape police, then was pronounced dead. The Atlanta Police Department held a press conference regarding the incident but initially did not disclose the identity of the deceased.
While Scooter’s official cause of death was initially under investigation, authorities revealed the events that led up to the incident. Below, learn more about Young Scooter and how he died.
Who Is Young Scooter?
Young Scooter, whose birth name was Kenneth Edward Bailey, rose to prominence in the hip-hop scene after working with his friend Future. According to Variety, the South Carolina native worked with Future on several songs, and Scooter chose to pursue a music career after facing a drug trafficking charge. Scooter was eventually signed by Future and Waka Flocka Flame.
Once news of Scooter’s death broke in March 2025, Waka Flocka seemingly addressed it by sharing a message to his Instagram Stories. He wrote, “Street, you had me crying before my show …you the backbone … dama brada.”
RIP Young Scooter 🕊️💔
— RapMarathon (@RapMarathon_) March 29, 2025
What Happened to Young Scooter?
Scooter died after sustaining a fatal leg injury while attempting to flee from police by jumping a fence, according to multiple outlets citing the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office. Although authorities did not initially confirm the identity of the deceased, Variety, 11 Alive, and Atlanta News First later reported it was Scooter. His family also confirmed the news, according to PEOPLE.
On March 28, 2025, at approximately 5:23 p.m. local time, officers responded to 273 William Nye Drive SE following reports of a dispute and possible gunfire. According to the APD’s initial statement, a man fled the scene as officers arrived. During a press conference, APD stated that the 911 caller had reported “a dispute with shots fired and a female being dragged back into the residence,” though no weapons were ultimately discharged. Authorities later identified the caller as Demetria Spence, who was arrested and charged with transmitting a false public alarm.
“Just to be very clear, the injury that was sustained was not via the officers on scene. It was when the male was fleeing,” police said, according to Billboard.
“When officers arrived, a male initially opened the door [then] closed the door in the officers’ faces without communicating,” police said. Cops proceeded to “establish a perimeter,” and two men “fled” the premises. One male returned to the home and the other “jumped two fences” while fleeing. (The second male from the scene has yet to be identified).
Police also noted, “When officers located him on the other side of the fence, he appeared to have suffered an injury to his leg. Officers rendered aid, and he was transported to Grady Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.”
Young Scooter’s Cause of Death
On April 1, the Fulton County Medical Examiner released the rapper’s cause of death, confirming he died from a “penetrating injury of the right thigh” and ruling the death an accident.
“Mr. Bailey sustained a penetrating injury of his right thigh that created marked blood loss. This injury was not a gunshot wound. Mr. Bailey injured himself on organic (wooden) fencing material and/or woody debris after vaulting at least one fence,” the medical examiner stated in the release.
