Yak Gotti stabbed in jail ahead of YSL RICO trial verdict

Rapper Yak Gotti, indicted in the YSL RICO case alongside Young Thug, was injured but expected in court.

Deamonte Kendrick, known by his rap name Yak Gotti, was stabbed on Sunday while in jail but is expected to appear in court on Monday, according to his attorney. 

Kendrick, along with Shannon Stillwell, is awaiting a jury verdict on charges of gang involvement, murder, drug trafficking, and gun offenses. The two men are part of a larger case involving 28 individuals indicted in 2022, including rapper Young Thug, on charges related to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

Fulton County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Natalie Ammons confirmed that Kendrick was injured in a fight with another detainee at the jail’s south annex in Union City. He sustained "minor injuries from a sharp object" and was treated for the wounds. An investigation into the altercation is currently underway.

Kendrick’s attorney, Doug Weinstein, assured that despite Kendrick sounding tired, he expects his client to make a full recovery. The jury in Kendrick and Stillwell's case began deliberating last Tuesday, taking a break for Thanksgiving, and is set to resume on Monday.

Kendrick and Stillwell were among the group indicted alongside Young Thug, who faces charges of running a criminal street gang. While prosecutors contend that Young Slime Life (YSL) is a gang, the defense argues it's simply a record label. Four defendants, including Young Thug, pled guilty in October, with the rapper released on probation.

The jury’s deliberations, which began on November 28, are expected to continue as the trial nears its conclusion.