More than two years after the shocking killing of Chris King rocked the hip-hop community, authorities say the final suspect connected to the rapper’s murder has officially been arrested.
Police in Nashville confirmed that 21-year-old Jason Valentine was taken into custody Tuesday following a lengthy multi-state investigation tied to the fatal 2024 shooting outside a Midtown recording studio. Authorities say Valentine was arrested on Glenrose Avenue and is now being held on a $500,000 bond while facing charges including first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and gun-related offenses.
Investigators believe the deadly incident began as a robbery attempt before spiraling into violence. According to reports, King and several friends were gathered outside a studio around 2:30 a.m. on April 20, 2024, when multiple suspects approached them in an alley between Hayes and Church streets.
Gunfire soon erupted, leaving Chris King fatally wounded. He was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center but later died from his injuries. Another man who was shot during the incident survived.
Authorities had already arrested three other suspects over the past two years, including Amir Carroll in Nashville, Adrian Cameron Jr. in Los Angeles, and Trayvon Palmer in Las Vegas. Valentine’s arrest reportedly marks the final major breakthrough in the case.
The rapper’s death sparked an emotional wave across the music industry. Justin Bieber publicly mourned King online, calling the loss painful and asking fans to pray for his family. Trippie Redd also shared heartbreaking messages, saying King had changed the course of his career and admitting he struggled to process the tragedy. Meanwhile, Machine Gun Kelly described Chris King as “rare.”
Police say the investigation involved extensive coordination between multiple agencies across several states. While the arrests bring a sense of progress, many fans continue to reflect on the violence that cut Chris King’s life and career short far too soon.
