Lil Tjay broke his silence following his release from jail after a shooting that left Offset injured outside a Florida casino. On April 6, 2026, law enforcement responded to the valet area of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. Offset—born Kiari Kendrell Cephus— was struck and transported to Memorial Regional Hospital. Meanwhile, authorities described his condition as “stable and being closely monitored” as they investigated the circumstances of the incident.

The Seminole Police Department took Tione Jayden Merritt, known professionally as Lil Tjay, into custody and booked him into Broward County Jail. He was released on a $500 bond after being charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct—affray—related to the altercation that preceded the shooting. However, law enforcement stressed that he is not charged in connection with the shooting itself, and the identity of the actual shooter remains under investigation.

Amid speculation, Lil Tjay directly addressed the night’s events. “The last thing I seen was Offset looking at me like this ‘that n***a shot me, that na shot me.’ N***a is a rat. I don’t do no damn fighting,” he said. He also denied any physical confrontation with Offset, adding, “I would smack the s**t out of him. He would never play with me like that in his life, Ask Offset.”

Lil Tjay Denies Any Involvement as Offset Recovers; Authorities Investigate

His lawyer, Dawn Florio, reiterated that Lil Tjay is not accused of shooting anyone. “Lil Tjay has not been shot, nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting. Any reporting to the contrary is false,” she said.

Offset, a member of Migos, continues to receive medical care and is expected to recover fully. His team has refrained from commenting on Lil Tjay’s remarks, citing privacy. In addition, authorities are still reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. They emphasize the secured scene and the absence of any ongoing threat to the public.