This week, the North Texas music community was shocked by news that popular Fort Worth rap star G$ Lil Ronnie and his 5-year-old daughter R’mani Sibley were fatally shot at Slappy’s Express Car Wash in Forest Hills.
According to Forest Hill police, officers were called to the car wash in the 6500 block of Forest Hill Drive at 10:45 a.m. March 3, where they attempted life-saving efforts on the father and daughter, but they died at the scene.
Police say the 35-year-old rapper, whose given name was Ronnie Sibley, had parked his car in a bay at the car wash. A white, four-door Kia pulled up, and two men exited it and opened fire on Sibley before fleeing.
According to a news release, investigators found the Kia and secured arrest warrants charging two men with capital murder. Adonis Robinson, 24, and Jakobe Russell, 21, remain at large, and Forest Hill Police Chief David Hernandez asked the community for help finding them.
“They're scared,” said Chief Hernandez. “They're cowards. They're hiding. We ask the public, please, you know where they're at? Let us know."
Robinson is a convicted sex offender who was released from prison last August, police said. Russell has prior convictions for assault bodily injury, assault of a pregnant person and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Messages of grief and love came quickly to social media as news of the murders broke.
“My heart stop on this one!!!” wrote Kedrick Wilson, better known as established North Texas DJ Mr. Hit Dat in a Monday Instagram post. “I’m hurt with this one!!! We was BIG on Fatherhood.”
Following the news, the biggest artists in DFW joined fans in mourning the rapper, also known as Chuckie, and his daughter. They paid their respects on social media and shared candid pictures and videos. Messages honored Lil Ronnie for his positive energy, impressive raps and gambling skills, while recognizing his daughter's innocence.
One of the biggest stars in music, Leon Bridges, a fellow Fort Worth native, paid respects to the slain rapper on Instagram with an old photo of them together. ”Damn Chucky,” the singer-songwriter captioned the photo.
Still in shock about Ronnie’s daughter being among those fatally shot, Yella Beezy sent his condolences and expressed his pain on social media. ““This one hit different … a whole baby, man. This gotta stop. Praying for their family, this is beyond heartbreaking,” Beezy shared.
A father of three boys, he continued: “I’m so fucced up right now, ya’ll don’t understand … Anxiety through the roof! That shit hurt.”
Originally known as Hoodfame Lil Ronnie, his music career began in 2016. His slick-talking raps about street culture and Best Gambler in Texas persona garnered a dedicated following. He released 13 albums including notable hits “Count Up,” “Red Roses,” “Wops” and “Crash Pt. 4.” He released “Chase,” his final song, in September.
“My heart hurts for my boy Chuckie Smith,” wrote DFW manager Shamar Willis on his Facebook account. My Boy was the DFW. He had respect on all sides and was my Favorite Rapper out of Fort Worth. I always showed him love when I saw him, letting him know that, too. RIP to his daughter, too. Man, his last post was so positive. It hurts that the good die young.”
Also recognizing Lil Ronnie's impact was music manager Lorenzo "SmoothVega" Zenteno. SmoothVega wrote an ode to the rapper as a Fort Worth hip-hop legend. “I wanna take this to shed light on G$ Lil Ronnie and the contributions + impact that he had on Fort Worth Music and beyond,” SmoothVega shared. “This brother right here along with Go Yayo changed the culture forever in Fort Worth hip-hop. They ushered in the YouTube era and became the first rappers from our city to really go viral. They became the wave that everyone followed. Those that know, KNOW how much of a role that Ronnie played in not only his success but Go Yayo’s as well. These guys built something legendary. This brother was special. It sucks to hear the news of him and his daughter passing today.”
Kassandra “DTXNova” Juarez, local manager with close ties to Chuckie, shared a touching message that acknowledged his trendsetting catchphrases and personality. Promising to continue his legacy, she writes:
“YOU FUCKED THE CITY UP LITERALLY. THE BEST GAMBLER IN TX!! FROM MIAMI TO VIDEO SHOOTS TO BEING BACK STAGE AT SHOWS. YOU ALWAYS SHOWED LOVE. ONE OF THE MOST GENUINE SOULS IVE RAN INTO IN THIS INDUSTRY. ITS HARD TO FIND A "CHUCKIE" IN REAL LIFE. THANKS FOR ALWAYS KEEPING IT REAL. … REST IN LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR BABYGIRL.“
Sibley was introduced to North Texas as a standout in the popular Fort Worth rap posse Hoodfame, led by Go Yayo. Hoodfame would design the Fort Worth rap style with their massive hits “Hoodfame Killuminati,” “Bow Wow” and “Flu.”
In 2024, Sibley toured the nation alongside Go Yayo and music megastar Soulja Boy Tell’em. Soulja Boy honored his passing on Monday. The “Crank Dat” hitmaker tweeted: “RIP to my brudda G$ Lil Ronnie love u fam.”
Outside his music, his relatives remembered him as a beloved family man. "He didn’t bother nobody,” Stella Houston, his aunt, told Fox 4. “He didn’t target nobody. He was a family man, and he was going around rapping, OK. Why would you target him?"
