The music world has lost a young rising star.
Rapper YNT Juan, born Juan Bautista Garcia, was found shot dead in a parked car on Sunday, Aug. 8 by police in Hartford, Conn., the Hartford Courant reported. The performer was 17 years old. The manner of his death, caused by a gunshot wound of the head, was ruled a homicide, according to the Hartford Medical Examiner. Hartford Police Major Crime and Crime Scene divisions are investigating the shooting.
Shortly before his death, Juan promoted his newly released remix of Kanye West's "Power" to his 26,000 Instagram followers. He posted a video for the remix on YouTube, where he'd amassed more than 4,000 subscribers, on Aug. 3. It has since a garnered more than 18,000 views.
Fans and friends showered his most recent Instagram post with comments in tribute to the late rapper. "I actually believed in you from the moment we first met & made a video. & i'm grateful we did," one comment read. "Sleep easy legend."
The young star was remembered as an aspiring artist gone too soon. "He never went live on his Instagram to talk about drama, he only went on there to support his friends or promote his music," his childhood friend Janine told the Hartford Courant. "[He] didn't even get to graduate school yet."
A recording studio he worked with also paid tribute to the lost talent. "Gone But Never Forgotten," Connecticut People Records posted on their Instagram. "@yntjuan ! Now Everybody Major Covering Your Story."
"My boy ... Rest easy broski," a comment from the studio read. "I can't even believe this type of s--t happened .. love bro."