On a December evening in Atlanta, the life of 28-year-old James Adams was cut short by a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The incident, which occurred on December 10, 2020, unfolded on Peeples Street in the southwest part of the city. Authorities later described the event as a gang-related drive-by shooting. Adams was reportedly a member of the crew associated with Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci, whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett.
According to police, Adams was acting as a triggerman in the
drive-by shooting when he was struck by return fire. He was found deceased at the scene by responding officers. Shortly after the shooting of Adams, another man, Kevin Wright, arrived at a nearby fire station with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Investigators quickly linked the two shootings. The investigation into the death of James Adams led to the arrests of three individuals on murder charges.
Among those arrested were 17-year-old Leroy Pitts and 23-year-old Ra'von Boyd, who were taken into custody in Miami, Florida. The most prominent name connected to the case was that of 29-year-old Rayshawn Bennett, also known as YFN Lucci. Bennett was wanted on multiple charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault, and participation in criminal street gang activity. He eventually surrendered to law enforcement in January 2021 and was held at the Fulton County Jail.
Initially facing the possibility of life in prison, Bennett reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. In January 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. As part of the deal, the felony murder charge against him was dropped. While authorities believe Bennett was the driver of the vehicle involved in the shooting, they do not allege that he was the one who pulled the trigger. His plea resulted in a 20-year sentence, with 10 years to be served in prison and 10 on probation.
