Rapper Lil Zay Osama, whose real name is Isaiah Jaylaun Dukes, is currently the subject of a police investigation regarding an armed robbery that took place at a smoke shop in Los Angeles on March 13, 2025. As reported by ABC7 Eyewitness News, details surrounding the event remain scarce, but authorities are actively looking into the incident.
Born on June 3, 1997, in Chicago, Lil Zay Osama has made a name for himself within the hip-hop community through his emotionally charged tracks, often referred to as “pain music.”His lyrics reflect the hard realities of growing up on the South Side of Chicago, exploring themes of trauma and resilience. Recognized for his breakout single Changed Up, which was released in 2019, he later signed with Warner Records, establishing a foothold in the music industry.
The incident that brought Lil Zay Osama back into the spotlight began when two videographers arrived at Hubci Smoke Shop on Melrose Avenue around 9 PM for a planned music video shoot. Upon their arrival, they were reportedly assaulted by a group of eight individuals, including Osama, who brandished firearms to threaten and capture them, as detailed by Hypefresh on March 14, 2025.
During this violent robbery, two of the victims sustained serious injuries, one suffering a significant head trauma and another encountering dental damage due to being struck with a firearm. The assailants made off with luxurious jewelry, firearms, and other high-value items, escaping in a black BMW and a yellow Lamborghini Urus, according to ABC7 Eyewitness News.
Law enforcement quickly acted on the robbery, locating the yellow Lamborghini within thirty minutes. A high-speed chase ensued as multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), California Highway Patrol (CHP), and Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, engaged in the pursuit, as reported by Hypefresh.
This chase culminated in the arrest of two suspects near Santa Rosa Valley, while others fled in the black BMW. Despite the arrests, police are still on the lookout for the remaining suspects as the investigation continues.
Recovered items include cash and jewelry, found on the suspects apprehended during the chase. Investigators are now working to determine if the weapons used in this robbery link to other criminal activities in the area.
While the inquiry is progressing, authorities are urging the public to assist them with any information that might help clarify events surrounding the incident.
Previous Legal Troubles and Investigative Scrutiny
Lil Zay Osama has a history of legal complications, including past brushes with the law involving weapons and police pursuits. In 2024, he faced a 14-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to a federal weapons charge stemming from the possession of an altered firearm within an Uber. This incident has prompted further exploration into his connections with robbery cases, as reported by Hypefresh.
In various interviews, Osama has openly admitted to orchestrating setups that targeted cameramen during music video shoots for robbery purposes, which has drawn additional scrutiny from investigators regarding his alleged role in the recent incident.
His past also includes an arrest in December 2023 after a high-speed chase in Illinois, resulting in the recovery of loaded firearms—including a Glock 19 equipped with a 50-round drum magazine—and a $90,000 chain linked to another robbery in New York City. The firearms were discovered to be illegally modified, thereby heightening their lethality and anonymity.
Investigators are currently reviewing surveillance footage from prior incidents to uncover any potential correlations between Lil Zay Osama and earlier armed robberies. Although definitive evidence has yet to identify Osama as the ringleader of the Los Angeles robbery, his extensive criminal history has rendered him a pivotal person of interest in this ongoing investigation.
Authorities are continuing their efforts to locate additional suspects and retrieve the missing black BMW. As of now, no official charges have been brought against Osama, but law enforcement confirms that he remains a focus of the investigation.