Hit team ambushes, kills local rapper after leaving show at a popular San Antonio hip hop club

San Antonio police continue to investigate the shooting death of local rapper Christopher Polk, 25, following a performance Saturday morning, Feb. 24, 2018, at a popular hip hop club. San Antonio police continue to investigate the shooting death of local rapper Christopher Polk, 25, following a performance Saturday morning, Feb. 24, 2018, at a popular hip hop club. Photo: 21 Pro Video Photo: 21 Pro Video Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close Hit team ambushes, kills local rapper after leaving show at a popular San Antonio hip hop club 1 / 13 Back to Gallery

A San Antonio rapper was shot dead early Saturday while driving on Northwest Loop 410 near the Medical Center in what police said was a targeted attack.

Christopher Polk, 25, died at the scene near the Callaghan Road entrance, shortly after 2 a.m. He and a friend had just left the Ice Lounge in 5500 block of Northwest Loop 410.

Polk, also known as Chris P - OG Ape Life, was the driver, heading east on Loop 410 when a silver SUV pulled up beside Polk’s vehicle and opened fire on the driver’s side, according to Officer Douglas Greene, SAPD spokesman.

A second vehicle then got in front of Polk’s vehicle and also opened fire, Greene said.

Polk was struck by bullets from several weapons, police said.

The unnamed passenger, who also was hit, took control of the vehicle’s steering wheel and managed to bring it to a stop on the right shoulder of Loop 410, Greene said. He was taken by EMS to University Hospital in serious condition.

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As soon as the public became aware of his death, Polk’s Facebook page was flooded with condolences from fans, people he worked with and those who knew him.

“We were shell-shocked when we heard about it,” said Ron Hick, owner of the Ice Lounge, who said Polk had not performed at the bar Friday night but had came to meet up with friends. “He hadn’t made it mainstream yet but he was talented, an up-and-coming artist.”

According to Kasilo Choka, owner of the local music agency Grownhop, Polk had been mostly self-made and had hundreds of subscribers on platforms such as Spotify and YouTube.

“I believe he was selling CDs on the street in 2010 when I heard about him,” said Choka, who has more than 30 years in the industry. “I then met him around six years ago and followed his music, watched his numbers grow.”

Childhood friend Alonzo Spradley, 27, recalled growing up on the Northwest Side with Polk and seeing his career branch outside of San Antonio.

“A lot of people say they are gonna rap but never really go for it. He did and was really talented,” Spradley said, adding, however, that Polk was not short on enemies.

“He was a good person, but doing what he does, people didn’t want to see him successful. He definitely had enemies.”

(Warning: Graphic content shown in the video below)

Polk became the center of a controversy last year after he appeared in a video cradling a semi-automatic machine pistol, showing off a large gold medallion on a heavy chain he said belonged to Baton Rouge comedian/rapper 22 Savage, now known as Young 22.

In the profanity-laced video, which has nearly half a million hits, Polk tells the Louisiana rapper he can come get his necklace for $20,000.

Young 22 said the chain was stolen from him when he was pulled off a San Antonio stage during a performance in May, a few days before Polk’s video hit the internet. In the video, Polk indicated he didn’t take the chain but acquired it from the person who did.

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It’s not clear whether the chain was ever returned to Young 22, whose real name is MacArthur Johnson.

In 2016, Johnson, then 19, was charged with second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon and obstruction of justice in connection with a fatal shooting in Baker, Louisiana, reports from Louisiana media indicate. A grand jury indefinitely suspended the case against him in 2017.

Court records show Polk was arrested in October 2014 on a possession of marijuana, more than 4 ounces but less than 4 lbs. He was sentenced to probation in January 2015.

Friends said Polk had a daughter who’s nearly 2 years old.