Rapper Drakeo The Ruler Confirmed Dead At 28 After Being Stabbed At L.A. Festival

Los Angeles, CA – Drakeo The Ruler (real name Darell Caldwell) is reportedly dead after being stabbed in the neck during the Once Upon A Time In L.A. Festival at Exposition Park on Saturday night (December 18). The West Coast rapper was initially in critical condition at a nearby hospital, but TMZ reports he has since succumb to his injury.

According to the Los Angeles Times, public information officer for the Los Angeles Fire Department Margaret Stewart said paramedics responded to a call about a stabbing around 8:40 p.m. local time and one person was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

A source with direct knowledge of the incident confirmed Drakeo The Ruler was “attacked by a group of people at the music festival and seriously injured.”

Media update: There has been an incident at the Once Upon A Time in LA festival at the Banc of California. The festival has concluded early. LAPD will be in the area assisting CHP w/ the investigation. Media staging is on the South Lawn at Bill Robertson south of Exposition.

— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) December 19, 2021

The organizers of the festival swiftly shut the event down after the fight erupted backstage. As premature rumors of Drakeo The Ruler’s death circulated on Twitter, the festival issued a statement via Instagram, saying, “The Once Upon A Time In LA Fest is ending early. All performances are now over. Please head to the closest exit and head eastbound on MLK.”

Drakeo The Ruler was scheduled to perform alongside dozens of acts, including Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, The Game, Cypress Hill, Ice Cube and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Snoop Dogg was expected to take the main stage at 8:30 p.m. but was running late. By 9:20 p.m., police had swarmed the backstage area and the show was over.

Drakeo The Ruler was just 28 at the time of his death. His passing comes just over a year after he was released from prison.

HipHopDX sends our condolences to Drakeo’s family and all those who cared about him. This story is still developing.