Unfortunately, Lil Tjay has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons. He has had run-ins with the law ever since successfully recovering from a near-fatal shooting in June 2022. According to an arrest document obtained by XXL from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Lil Tjay (born Tione Merritt) was detained last night (May 5) in Bergen County, New Jersey, for unlawful possession of a weapon/firearm without a permit. This is his third arrest for a gun charge since the beginning of the year. Shortly after his arrest, the young multiplatinum rapper was booked and released.
In January 2023, on his way to film a video with Ice Spice in New York, he was stopped by police after a handgun was discovered in the car. Dawn Florio, his attorney, told HotNewHipHop that the gun found did not belong to the “In My Head” rapper. Tjay and four other people were pulled over, and four firearms were discovered while searching the vehicle, according to police. That was the second time in a month that the “Calling My Phone” rapper had been arrested on weapons charges.
Furthermore, New York and New Jersey have some of the most stringent gun laws in the country. When it comes to illegally carrying a gun in New York, artists like Lil Wayne, Roddy Ricch, and now Lil Tjay have learned the hard way.
It’s understandable that Lil Tjay would want to feel safe while away from home after experiencing a near-death experience. Unfortunately, it appears that he will be closely monitored by police due to his history. As a result, he must seek a legal alternative to feeling secure. Tjay is expected to be outside as a young and famous Bronx, New York native. Hopefully, he and his team will be able to keep him safe without getting into legal trouble.
