Photo: victim Justin Lishey, aka Kid Cali (Twitter)
CELEBRITY/LOS ANGELES – Kenny Birdine aka “Lil’ Rampage” (dob 9/22/96) was slapped with a life sentence Wednesday. A case of mistaken identity landed the gang member 50 years-to-life in state prison for killing up-and-coming rapper “Kid Cali.”
While attending a pool party at a Granada Hills mansion on 8/20/16, Lil’ Rampage mistook Kid Cali for a Rollin’ 90s gang member, and shot him multiple times at close range. He continued to fire the handgun as Justin Lishey (30) fell to the ground.
“Lishey was not a documented gang member and he did nothing to provoke the murder,” said Deputy District Attorney Amy Murphy of the Hardcore Gang Division. Kid Cali died at Holy Cross Hospital.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Bureau. The defendant Birdine, a member of the Inglewood Family Bloods, was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder on 10/31/18.
“The jury also found true allegations that Birdine used a handgun in the killing and he committed the crime in association with a criminal street gang,” said Ricardo Santiago, the DA’s PIO.
“Desean Jackson, Chris Brown, Mozzy, Nipsey Hussle and Snoop Dogg among many other celebrities have tweeted out their support for Kid Cali. He lived a life that affected many people’s lives positively. His unique, grimy-sounding way of rapping made him a stand-out star,” reported HipHopDX.
via Twitter @SnoopDogg – “???. @kidcali_oso rest well young g” (http://ift.tt/2bnDdvg).
The 28-year-old rapper was survived by a baby daughter and another baby on the way
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to protecting our community through the fair and ethical pursuit of justice and the safeguarding of crime victims’ rights.
