Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Rapper Desiigner Arrested After Midtown Road Rage Incident
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 9, 2016
Modified Sep 9, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty Images
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 9, 2016
Modified Sep 9, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Rising Brooklyn rap star Desiigner is in police custody after being arrested for possession of a criminal weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance and menacing. Apparently a driver called 911 after getting in a road rage altercation with the 19-year-old.
The incident started near West 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue, and then ended up at East 42nd and Third Avenue after 9 p.m. last night. Video of the arrest shows Desiigner, who was in a white Cadillac Escalade, across from the Capital Grille's East Side location.
According to TMZ, "The people in the SUV and the driver of another vehicle began screaming at each other. The driver of the other car called 911 and claimed Desiigner pointed a gun at him. The SUV left but the driver of the car took down the license plate number. Cops found the SUV a short time later, searched it, and found a large quantity of loose pills in the center console. Our law enforcement sources say they found Oxycontin and other drugs."
The Daily News adds that during the initial argument, "Desiigner allegedly flicked a lit cigarette at the other motorist, then waved a gun at him and took off."
His companions are also still in custody—they were hit with charges ranging from criminal possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Desiigner had one of the biggest hits of the summer, "Panda." Just the other night, Jimmy Kimmel tested pedestrians to see if they could understand the lyrics in the song.
Tagged
desiigner
gun violence
menacing
midtown
road rage
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
Two people who were found soaking wet and smelling of sewage say they went underground to look for jewelry, according to police and a criminal complaint.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 7:49 p.m. ET
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
News
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime
By
Carol Chen
Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .