A New York City rapper who fired off four shots at a motorcyclist in Times Square early on Wednesday was out on bail for illegal weapons possession charges at the time of the road rage incident, it has been reported.
Elijah Quamina, 20, allegedly shot at the biker around 12:40 a.m. near 7th Ave. and 41st St. in Midtown and was arrested on Thursday, police said. Nobody was injured in the shooting.
Quamina pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon while appearing in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday, the New York Daily News reported.
The rapper, who recently signed a deal with RCA Records under the name Eli Fross, claimed he accidentally clipped a motorcyclist, 32, with his Mercedes when a friend of the biker, 22, shot at him and he returned fire in self-defense, the outlet reported.
Elijah Quamina, 20, allegedly shot at the biker around 12:40 a.m. near 7th Ave. and 41st St. in Midtown and was arrested on Thursday
Quamina pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon
He appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday and was released on $100,000 cash bail hours after his label would get him out of jail
The rapper claimed he accidentally clipped a motorcyclist, 32, with his Mercedes when a friend of the biker, 22, shot at him and he returned fire in self-defense
Quamina recently signed a deal with RCA Records under the name Eli Fross
Cops told the Daily News that the biker's friend confronted a group of men standing by the Mercedes when someone in the group started firing. The Mercedes then sped off as the alleged shooter fled on foot.
An NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com in a statement that the 22-year-old man has filed a police report for attempted assault.
Quamina was released on $100,000 cash bail hours after bragging RCA, which is owned by Sony Music Entertainment, would get him out of jail, the Daily News reported.
Police previously arrested Quamina on May 29 in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn when he was found with a loaded handgun with a defaced serial number, the New York Daily News reported - citing a complaint the outlet obtained.
According to the New York Post, Quamina was also arrested on gun-possession charges in May 2020 and had been out on a $7,500 bail.
'While out on bail with gun charges, this defendant fired a gun, shooting several rounds of ammunition at a complete stranger in Times Square, after he was involved in a traffic collision,' a prosecutor said.
David Adhami, Quamina's lawyer, said during his hearing on Friday that he has no prior convictions, the outlet reported.
Quamina, who grew up in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, always wanted to become a rapper, a former neighbor told the Daily News.
'When he became a rapper, I
