Raz B’s son, Astro Monte Thornton, died from “asphyxia due to airway obstruction,” and the Fulton County Medical Examiner has ruled the 3-month-old’s death an accident. The newly confirmed finding comes two months after the B2K singer and his wife, Mona Li, lost their baby boy in Atlanta.
Astro died on September 8, 2026. The medical examiner’s office performed an autopsy the following day, but its initial public report listed the cause of death as pending investigation. On November 12, TMZ reported the new determination, which PEOPLE also confirmed. The publicly reported findings do not identify what obstructed Astro’s airway or describe the exact circumstances that caused the obstruction.
According to an Atlanta police incident report obtained by TMZ in September, officers responded to the family’s home after a call about an unresponsive infant. Emergency medical personnel pronounced Astro dead at the scene. Investigators reported no obvious signs of trauma or foul play. Those early observations preceded the medical examiner’s final ruling.
The family first publicly confirmed the death of Raz B’s son in September through a statement shared by their spokesperson, David Robinson, who requested privacy on their behalf.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Astro Monte Thornton, beloved son of Mona and De’Mario ‘Raz B’ Thornton of the R&B supergroup B2K,” the statement said. “The family asks for privacy as they navigate this difficult time and appreciates your love and support in advance.”
The September announcement did not identify a cause of death, which remained under investigation until the medical examiner’s determination.
Raz B, whose full name is De’Mario Monte Thornton, and Mona Li had celebrated Astro’s anticipated arrival just months before the devastating loss. Their growing family had been a recurring part of the couple’s public posts as Raz B performed and Li prepared to give birth.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
In April, Li shared photos of herself walking beside her husband while reflecting on his completion of the Boys 4 Life Tour. At the time, she was nine months pregnant and expressed pride in watching him perform while also building their life together.
“Watching my husband complete the Boys 4 Life Tour has been one of my greatest honors. I know what this meant for you & I’m so proud of you! Being able to witness your greatness night after night from the audience but also as your wife means more to me than words can say,” she wrote in part.
“Thank you for letting me share this journey with you babe,” she continued. “9 months pregnant and outside w my man ha. I know you didn’t just do this for yourself you did it for your family, for your future, and for the legacy you’re building.”
In May, the couple shared another family milestone. They posted photos with their son Versai Carter, and Li’s older daughter from a previous relationship while announcing they were preparing to welcome Astro. The baby was not pictured in that announcement, but the family’s excitement was clear in their words.
“I always wanted to take a real family picture with my own family… and finally, God made a way,” the two wrote in their caption. “Right now we’re at the hospital getting ready to welcome our newest addition, Astro… another baby boy to the Thornton family.”
“Big congratulations to my beautiful wife for being so strong through this journey. Watching you become a mother again is one of the greatest blessings I could ever witness,” they continued. “The Thornton family continues to grow… and our legacy does too.”
Raz B and Li also share Versai, who was born in October 2024.
