Lil Baby Arrest History: Prison, Vegas Gun, and Murder Warrants

Lil Baby’s arrest history begins with a prison stint for drug and weapons charges before his music career, continues through a 2019 reckless driving arrest in Atlanta, a 2021 cannabis arrest in Paris, and a 2024 concealed-firearm arrest in Las Vegas, and culminates in his being named in 2025 arrest warrants tied to the murders of two thirteen-year-old boys in Atlanta. He has not been charged in the teen killings, and no criminal charges are currently pending against him.

Prison Time Before the Music

Born Dominique Armani Jones, the Atlanta rapper was jailed three times before his career took off and ultimately sentenced to prison on weapons and drug charges. He served roughly two years and was released in 2016, starting to record music soon after and committing to it fully by early 2017.¹

2019 Reckless Driving Arrest in Atlanta

On the evening of February 7, 2019, a Georgia State Patrol trooper watched Jones driving an orange Corvette through Atlanta. The trooper said Jones failed to signal a lane change and sped recklessly through heavy pedestrian traffic. When the trooper hit his lights, Jones tried to flee, weaving between cars before getting boxed in. He got out, lay on the ground, and was taken into custody without further incident.² Jones was booked at the Atlanta City Detention Center on charges of failing to use a turn signal, reckless driving, and attempting to elude police, then released on a signature bond.³

2021 Cannabis Arrest in Paris

Jones was arrested in Paris on July 8, 2021, during Fashion Week. He was riding in a car with NBA player James Harden and a bodyguard when plainclothes officers stopped the vehicle on an upscale avenue, citing a strong smell of cannabis. After Jones refused a search, uniformed officers were called in and found 32 grams of cannabis in the car.⁴ Jones and his bodyguard were detained on suspicion of transporting drugs. Harden was frisked but not held. Jones was released the next morning after being issued a criminal order to pay a fine for drug use.⁵

2024 Las Vegas Gun Arrest

Just before dawn on August 26, 2024, Jones was arrested on the Las Vegas Strip on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, a felony under Nevada law.⁶ Security staff at the Wynn Las Vegas spotted a tan Glock handgun on him through video surveillance. Police recovered the weapon, one magazine, and 17 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and booked him into the Clark County Detention Center.⁷

His attorneys, Drew Findling and David Chesnoff, pointed out that Jones holds a valid Georgia concealed-carry permit.⁸ Nevada does not honor Georgia concealed-carry licenses.⁹ Jones told officers he had carried the gun at a nightclub earlier that night and forgotten he had it on him. He posted a cash bond and was released.¹⁰ At an October 1, 2024 status hearing, the Clark County district attorney declined to pursue the charge, and the case was closed.⁷

Named in Warrants for Two Teens’ Murders

The heaviest legal matter involving Jones is not a charge against him. In February 2025, the Atlanta Police Department announced seven arrests in the July 2, 2024 shooting deaths of thirteen-year-olds Lamon Freeman and JaKody Davis. The arrest warrants named Lil Baby, describing him as the leader of the “Four Pockets Full” (4PF) group and alleging that his actions set a chain of retaliatory violence in motion.¹¹

Police traced the chain to May 2024, when Jones went to the 2100 block of Verbena Street NW in northwest Atlanta to film a music video. Authorities described that block as territory frequented by “Only My Family” (OMF), a subset of the Goodfellas street gang and a 4PF rival. Before filming began, several assailants opened fire. Three men in their twenties were wounded, and Jones himself was nearly struck.¹²¹³

The music video shooting, police said, triggered weeks of retaliatory attacks between 4PF and OMF, including the June 29, 2024 murder of OMF member Travante Turner at Peyton Place SW. According to the warrants, incarcerated Goodfellas leader Quiyontay “Midnight” Sanders then used a contraband cellphone inside Hancock State Prison to coordinate a retaliatory hit on 4PF members, specifically targeting John “J Shot” Smith, an associate police described as close to Jones.¹¹

Around 12:34 a.m. on July 2, 2024, at the Sparks Apartments on Sparks Street SW, six armed individuals got out of two vehicles that had circled the complex and opened fire. Freeman, who had stepped outside for a birthday greeting, died at the scene. Davis died at the hospital. A confidential informant told police that suspect Dekeitheon “Jayman” Mobley “really wanted Lil Baby, but it was hard to touch him,” and that the gunmen did not realize the victims were children until after the shooting. The warrants also disclosed that Sanders had discussed a plan to extort Jones for five million dollars upon his release from prison.¹¹

Jones has not been charged with any crime in the case. The warrants do not accuse him of ordering or participating in any of the shootings.¹⁴¹⁵¹³ Jones described the victims as being from his own neighborhood, said through counsel that he was “devastated,” and on social media called the police allegations “fake news.”¹¹

Why He Dissolved 4PF

In December 2024, Jones publicly confirmed he had dissolved his 4PF record label and launched a new imprint, Glass Window Entertainment. Speaking on Lil Yachty’s podcast, he said the decision came from concern about legal liability for the conduct of people associated with his business. “I had to start learning that, [as far as] other people’s assets, I could be held accountable. I ain’t know all of that at first,” he said. He described the move as a shift toward labels that “don’t got nothing to do with nobody.”¹⁶

Where Things Stand

As of the most recent reporting, Jones has no pending criminal charges. The Las Vegas concealed-weapon case was dropped in October 2024. He has not been charged in the Atlanta teen murders or the broader gang investigation, and his attorneys maintain he bears no responsibility for the violence. The investigation into the July 2024 shootings remains open, with seven suspects in custody and authorities offering a reward of up to $50,000 for further information.¹⁴¹⁵

1
Rolling Stone. Atlanta Rapper Lil Baby Bigger Picture Song
2
ABC 33/40. Rapper Lil Baby Arrested, Accused of Reckless Driving in a Corvette
3
WVTM 13. Rapper Lil Baby Arrested in Atlanta After Allegedly Trying To Flee Trooper
4
CBC. Lil Baby James Harden Paris
5
CBS News. Lil Baby Arrest Paris France James Harden
6
NBC Los Angeles. Rapper Lil Baby Arrested Las Vegas Concealed Weapon Violation
7
FOX5 Vegas. Rapper Lil Baby’s Charges Dropped Bringing Firearm Las Vegas Strip Casino
8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lil Baby Arrested on Weapons Charge in Las Vegas
9
NBC News. Rapper Lil Baby Arrested Vegas Concealed Firearm Charge
10
MyNBC 15. Rapper Lil Baby Arrested in Las Vegas on Gun Charge
11
FOX 5 Atlanta. Arrest Warrant Confirms Atlanta Rapper Lil Baby’s Connection Boys Murders
12
Atlanta News First. APD Gives Update 2024 Triple Shooting That Killed 2 Teens
13
BBC. Lil Baby Responds After Atlanta Police Link Rapper Teen Murders
14
The FADER. Lil Baby Atlanta Police RICO Charges
15
Atlanta News First. Rapper Lil Baby Responds Being Named Warrant Connecting Him Deadly Shooting 2 Atlanta Teens
16
Revolt. Lil Baby Says His 4PF Imprint Is No More