Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave was initially celebrated as a hero after a video surfaced appearing to show him fending off a robbery in San Diego last month by firing shots at an assailant targeting celebrity chef Geoff Cole. The footage, uploaded to Cole’s Instagram, shows a masked man running up to Cole and Troy Ave, who quickly draws a gun and fires several shots, allegedly scaring off the would-be thief. The post received significant attention, with some social media users praising Troy Ave’s quick response, while others questioned the authenticity of the event and speculated it was intended to promote a song playing in their vehicle.
However, the narrative unraveled when sources close to the situation told TMZ the entire incident was staged for social media clout, and that no live rounds were fired. There are also no police reports or records of any robbery or shooting involving Cole or Troy Ave, according to San Diego County authorities. Despite these revelations, the video remains available on Cole’s Instagram account, and neither party has commented publicly on the authenticity controversy.
In response to the online attention and skepticism, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation to determine if any crimes were committed related to staging the incident or producing the video. The investigation is ongoing, and it may take some time to reach a conclusion.