Rapper Lil Poppa shot himself in the head in front of his horrified manager after calling him for help when he crashed his car, according to police.
The 25-year-old artist, real name Janarious Mykel Wheeler, crashed on Thursday on Interstate 85 south of Haperville, Georgia, and called his manager in a panic over what to do, Hapeville Chief of Police Bruce Hedley told TMZ.
The car was still drivable and the manager told him to meet her in a nearby parking lot at a Hilton Hotel, the report said.
Lil Poppa stayed in his car as the two spoke through his rolled-down window — just for the rapper to pull out a handgun, point it at his head and pull the trigger, the police chief revealed.
It’s not clear what they discussed before the shocking act.
An off-duty cop working at the hotel called 911 and Wheeler was rushed to Grady Hospital where he was declared dead around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a suicide.
“We are stunned and devastated by the loss of our beloved family member, Janarius “Lil Poppa” Wheeler,” his label, Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group, wrote in a touching post.
“Poppa was more than just a talented artists — he was an ambitious young man with depth beyond his years and endless potential. Our love for him knows no bounds.
“He was one of those rare artists who thoughtfully poured his pain, growth and trust into his art. His passion and authenticity connected and inspired fans from all walks of life.”
The rapper had just released his newest track, “Out Of Town Bae,” last week, sharing a music video on his Instagram account the same day.
He is best known for his hit single “Love & War.”
The artist boasted a discography of more than 10 full-length albums and projects. His most recent, “Almost Normal Again,” dropped in August 2025.
Heartfelt tributes immediately poured in from fans on social media as news of his death spread.
“RIP Lil Poppa one of the greatest talents of our generation,” one distraught X user posted.
“Crazy underrated this album here and this song in particular are some of the best of the last few years. So talented and so young this s–t rlly got me f–ked up.”
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