On July 29, 2023, a tragic incident occurred at the Jade Fox Lounge in Lakeland, Florida, resulting in the death of 25-year-old Raheem Bacon, known professionally as the rapper 350Heem. The shooting happened during the ending of a party hosted by his older brother, former NBA player Dwayne Bacon, to celebrate the release of Raheem's latest album.
The party, which was heavily attended and featured discounted tequila shots, was winding down as the lounge staff turned on the lights at
1:40 a.m. to encourage guests to leave, in compliance with city ordinances requiring businesses to close by 2 a.m. However, a confrontation erupted when a group, including Jamilah Johnson and her mother Regina Orr, attempted to enter the lounge and were denied admission. This confrontation escalated into a large fight that spilled out into the parking lot.
During the altercation, Raheem Bacon came to his mother's defense after Orr punched his mother, Kennie Crawford, in the face. Video evidence and witness accounts indicate that Bacon raised a firearm and shot the 48-year-old female victim, Regina Orr, seconds before being shot by Johnson. Bacon was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center by a private vehicle, where he was pronounced dead. Orr was critically injured and taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Jamilah Johnson, 23, was immediately taken into custody by the Lakeland Police Department. Initially, she was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, but this charge was later dropped when it was determined that the information in the Florida Crime Information Center database was incorrect. Additional charges of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon were also dropped after evidence showed that Bacon fired the first shot. Johnson is now facing charges of possession of a concealed firearm and tampering with evidence for discarding the firearm at the scene.
The investigation revealed that the bullets that killed Bacon matched a stolen .40 caliber Glock handgun used by Johnson. The State Attorney’s Office determined that the circumstances did not support the criminal charge of homicide against Johnson, given that she was reacting to her mother being shot.
The incident has left the community and Bacon's family in shock and grief. Raheem Bacon was a promising young musician who had signed with Motown Records and was making a name for himself in the music industry. His family described him as a loving father, a hardworking young man, and a proud member of his community, known for his love of family, music, and his hometown. The tragedy has been highlighted as senseless, with family members expressing their disbelief and sorrow over the loss of life due to a dispute over entry to a club.
