Big U’s son Baby Uiie reportedly shot and killed outside Los Angeles smoke shop on Halloween night

Late on the night of Halloween, the son of prominent Los Angeles figure Eugene "Big U" Henley Jr., Baby Uiie, was reportedly shot dead outside a smoke shop in South Los Angeles. According to the reports by TMZ, officers responded to a shooting at about 11:11 PM at the intersection of 69th Street and Figueroa Street. The victim, described as a 34-year-old Black male, approached a vehicle and was shot by one or more unknown suspects, and was declared dead at the scene.

At this time, the victim has not been officially identified by the LAPD. However, multiple media outlets report that the man is Jabari "Baby Uiie" Henley, the son of Big U. The LAPD has not confirmed his identity or specified whether the shooting was gang-related.

Authorities say the suspect or suspects fled the scene in an unknown direction. There are no confirmed arrests at this moment. The investigation remains active.

Details of the incident involving Big U's son Baby Uiie

The police reported receiving the call at 11:11 PM in the 6900 block of South Figueroa Street in South Los Angeles, which is just to the west of the Harbor (110) Freeway. TMZ reports that officers arrived to find the victim shot outside of a smoke shop as he was walking up to a car, and the suspect vehicle left the area.

The victim was pronounced dead at the location. Police have not publicly identified the victim and have not yet provided any additional details of the suspect. They are unable to say if the shooting was gang-related. Media reports, as repeated by the suspect's family and local hip-hop news outlets, identified the victim as Jabari "Baby Uiie" Henley, 34, at the time of his death.

The location and time of the incident, Halloween night and outside of a smoke shop, has attracted attention as there are layers of stakes on top of a family known in the Los Angeles rap and street world, late at night, and the violence of being shot. For now, the police cautioned against making any assumptions as they have yet to process any forensic evidence or take witness statements.

Background on Big U and Baby Uiie

Eugene "Big U" Henley Jr. is a known figure in Los Angeles hip-hop and street-gang circles. He is alleged to have been a leader of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips (R60s) street gang, and also a music executive with various connections in the industry. Federal authorities have charged Big U with running a "mafia-like" criminal enterprise involving extortion, robbery, fraud, trafficking and murder, as per the reports by ABC7 Los Angeles.

Big U turned himself in earlier this year after a federal indictment. His son, Baby Uiie, is reported to have been involved in music. Media outlets cite him as having worked as a rapper and associated with the hip-hop scene via his father's network.

If confirmed, the shooting of Baby Uiie has greater significance than being a random act of violence based on the family connection and the historical street tensions associated with the Rollin’ 60s in South Los Angeles. Although law enforcement hasn't declared on the record that this incident is gang activity, the connection to gangs is prominent. And with the potential of this victim being the son of a well-known person, it adds even more interest to the story.

It should be noted that South Los Angeles has had difficulty preventing street violence and gang activity. Additionally, the LAPD homicide division will likely treat this investigation with great concern.

This incident is still at the outset of the investigation. Police will next collect any video surveillance from the location, interview witnesses at the smoke shop and corner, identify the suspect's vehicle, and investigate motive and connections. Authorities are also asking for the public’s assistance if they have information, and would like the public's cooperation while the investigation proceeds.

Essentially, this unfortunate shooting outside of a smoke shop on Halloween night allegedly resulted in the death of Baby Uiie, the child of Big U. He was shot in a vehicle ambush at about 11:11 p.m. The LAPD has not yet communicated confirmation of identity, but several sources point to Baby Uiie. The case is still being investigated, and no arrests have yet been made. The information surrounding the family connection, and its connection to rap and street gang affiliation, adds local and broader significance to the story - but we don't yet have anything official regarding motive or other information.

As more information comes to light, it will help determine how this story is understood: a hit related to gang affiliation, an unfortunate circumstance of mistaken violence, or something else entirely. The LAPD investigation of the findings in the days to come will reveal more information.

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