Young Thug’s attorneys are asking a Georgia judge to dismiss a long-running lawsuit connected to the 2015 shooting of Lil Wayne’s tour bus.
Lawyers for the Atlanta rapper appeared in Cobb County court Monday, August 17, as they fought a civil lawsuit filed by Lil Wayne’s former tour bus driver, Alvin Lewis.
Lewis claims he suffered severe emotional distress after the bus he was driving was struck by gunfire following a Lil Wayne concert in Atlanta in April 2015. No one aboard the bus was physically injured.
The lawsuit alleges that Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman were connected to the attack.
Both Young Thug and Birdman have denied involvement.
Young Thug’s Lawyers Fight Lil Wayne Tour Bus Lawsuit
Young Thug’s attorney Jeffrey Reilly argued that Lewis does not have sufficient admissible evidence directly connecting his client to the shooting.
The defense also challenged the plaintiff’s reliance on testimony and evidence concerning alleged gang affiliations and tensions involving Lil Wayne, Young Thug and Birdman before the shooting.
Lewis’ attorney, Jeffrey Gewirtz, offered a different interpretation.
His legal team alleges Young Thug and Birdman financially supported Jimmy Winfrey, also known as Peewee Roscoe, in connection with the shooting.
Winfrey was arrested after the incident and previously received a prison sentence before that conviction was later overturned. He subsequently resolved charges connected to Georgia’s YSL RICO case through a plea agreement in 2024.
$25,000 Payment Becomes Focus of Young Thug Lawsuit
One major point of dispute involves money Young Thug allegedly provided toward Winfrey’s legal expenses.
Lewis’ attorneys have pointed to a recorded jail call between Young Thug and Winfrey, along with the $25,000 payment, while arguing that the relationship between the two supports their case.
Young Thug’s attorneys strongly dispute that interpretation.
The defense maintains that the money was simply used to help pay the legal expenses of someone Young Thug had known since childhood and was not compensation for carrying out the shooting.
The plaintiff has also previously cited phone records and other evidence that he argues connects Young Thug and Winfrey around the time of the attack.
What Happened to Lil Wayne’s Tour Bus in 2015?
Lil Wayne’s tour buses were leaving a performance at Compound nightclub in Atlanta in April 2015 when shots were fired at the vehicles.
Although nobody was injured, Lewis later sued over the incident, alleging that the shooting left him suffering from lasting emotional distress.
The civil case has remained unresolved for nearly a decade while various criminal proceedings and legal disputes surrounding the shooting unfolded.
Lewis is seeking punitive damages from the defendants.
Young Thug and Birdman maintain that they were not responsible for the attack.
Judge to Decide Whether Young Thug Lawsuit Goes to Trial
Cobb County Chief Judge Eric Brewton did not immediately rule on Young Thug’s request to dismiss the case.
The judge said he would issue a decision on whether Lewis has presented enough evidence for the lawsuit to move forward toward trial.
That means Young Thug has not been found liable for the shooting, and the latest hearing does not involve new criminal charges against the rapper.