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The world awoke to tragic news early Sunday morning (May 17) when Coke Boys rapper Lionel “Chinx” Pickens was shot and killed in Jamaica, Queens. After his death was confirmed by his management team, a slew of hip-hop artists took to social media to offer their respects and pay tribute to the burgeoning rap star. During the second and final night of his B-Sides concert this past weekend, Jay Z provided some poignant and touching words regarding Chinx’s death:

“A young man got killed in Queens. His name was Chinx,” Jay Z said to the New York crowd. “We are seriously under attack like never before. Like never before. Rest in peace to Chinx. And, we still killing each other. We need to understand that we are Kings and Queens. We are Kings and Queens and we are under attack.”

Since then, questions and speculation are rampant regarding Chinx’s killer(s). On Monday (May 18), it was reported that the NYPD’s Elite SWAT team raided a house on 2436 Beach Channel Drive just hours after Chinx’s murder and took three men into custody. However, the following day (May 19), the NYPD said that no arrests had been made and that the investigation was still very much active.

Interesting developments broke later that day when New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce announced that his department is considering the possibility that Chinx’s death was connected with the murder of friend and fellow rapper Stack Bundles. Stack, whose real name is Rayquon Elliott, was gunned down near the lobby of his Redfern Houses residence in Far Rockaway, Queens in June 2007. At the time of Bundles’ murder (which is yet to be solved), Chinx was serving four years on robbery and crack cocaine drug charges.

“They were friends, Stack Bundles and Chinx,” Boyce said. “They were friends, so we’re looking at all hip-hop angles.”

According to the New York Daily News, police say that Chinx breached his security protocol around the time that he was shot. In lieu of them driving him around, the rapper solicited two of his security guards to drive in front of him, leaving Chinx to drive himself around that night for an undisclosed reason.

The police aren’t the only ones who believe the murders could be linked, either. Speaking with the New York Daily News recently, Ronald Ulmer, the older brother of Stack Bundles, also thinks there’s likely to be a connection.

“I really think they could be related,” Ulmer said. “They were tight. They were a crew. And I just think if a person commits a crime as harsh as killing, and they think they got away with it, they will surface and do it again.”

The Resemblances In Chinx & Stack Bundles’ Deaths

So, what are the similarities in their murders? Well, both artists were at local nightclubs just hours before their deaths. Chinx was at Brooklyn’s Club Red Wolf while back in 2007, Stack Bundles was reportedly at Stereo nightclub in Manhattan. In addition, both rappers had connections to other high profile artists. Bundles had ties with Jim JonesByrd Gang crew, while Chinx was famously connected to French Montana, co-founder of Coke Boys Records. Other perhaps less meaningful connections were that they both drove Porsches and, at the time of their deaths, were both gearing up to release new music.

At present, though, the case is still ongoing. NYPD’s Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce called the investigation “long-term,” meaning it could be a while until we get any answers as to who was behind this deplorable and inexcusable killing.

R.I.P. to both Chinx and Stack Bundles, senselessly taken far too soon.

READ MORE ON THE URBAN DAILY

Chinx’s Funeral Details Released, Rapper Set To Be Laid To Rest Next Tuesday

Police Say Chinx’s Murder Could Be Connected To Stack Bundles’ Shooting In 2007

Yemen Says He’s Coming Home, Responds To Haters Over Chinx Shooting

Chinx’s Wife Expresses Grief, Feels She Could Have Been Prevented Tragedy

Everything We Know About Chinx & Stack Bundles’ Murders  was originally published on theurbandaily.com

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