The man charged in the alleged pistol whipping of Rick Ross’ son is out of jail and thanking 50 Cent for standing behind him. On Wednesday, 50 Cent posted a video of Don Roberts III sitting in a chair and speaking directly to the camera.
Video:
“I appreciate everybody who believed in me, my family and my friends,” Roberts said. “I’m out and I’m innocent. The Lord know I’m innocent. 50, I appreciate you for everything you’re doing for me and believing in my innocence. Much love.”
50 Cent captioned the clip, “I had a strong feeling this brother was innocent, who snitching,” before plugging his new Street Fighter movie.
The charges stem from an Oct. 11 incident near Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. According to the police report, Rick Ross’ son, 21-year-old William Roberts III, was standing on a sidewalk near McLeod Avenue and Weaver Street talking with a woman when a car pulled up. William, a tight end on the Bethune-Cookman football team, told police the driver got out yelling, then pointed a tan handgun at him and said, “I don’t care who your daddy is, I’ll kill you right here.” Police say the man then struck him on the right side of the head with the gun and drove off.
William told officers he believed the confrontation was about the woman, who had previously dated the suspect. He reported the attack the next day, saying he was too scared to call police right away. William is the son of Rick Ross and Tia Kemp.
Don Roberts III, 20, who is no relation to the family despite sharing the last name, turned himself in on Oct. 16. He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, both felonies. He pleaded not guilty on Oct. 19 and no longer appears on the Volusia County Jail website. The case is still open, and no court has ruled on his claim of innocence.
This is not the first time 50 Cent has weighed in. When news of the arrest broke, he posted Roberts’ mugshot with the caption, “Damn got the man arrested, why he didn’t just call his dad.
50 Cent and Rick Ross have feuded publicly since 2009, and 50 Cent rarely lets a Rick Ross headline pass without commentary. Earlier this month, when Ross surrendered to Miami Beach police on battery charges involving an ex-girlfriend, 50 Cent posted the news with the caption “LOL ARRESTED.” Ross’ attorney has said Ross was wrongfully accused.
Rick Ross has not publicly responded to 50 Cent’s latest post.
