Rapper C. Gambino Found Dead: What We Know About the Case

Police in Sweden are continuing to investigate the murder of award-winning masked Swedish rapper C. Gambino. The musician, whose real name is Karar Ramadan, was fatally shot in a suspected gang-related attack in the western city of Gothenburg on the night of Tuesday, June 4, with no suspects having yet been charged in connection to the case.

The rapper, not to be confused with American artist Childish Gambino, reportedly parked his car at a public parking garage in Gothenburg when the shooting occurred, according to police, Reuters reported. The Daily Mail reported that the rapper was shot at by one or more attackers who were lying in wait. Police responding to reports of a shooting discovered C. Gambino suffering from two gunshot wounds after being attacked by “several men.” Seven additional bullet marks were discovered on a glass door of the parking garage, according to Swedish outlet Expressen. C. Gambino was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police have since launched a murder investigation, with a police spokesperson stating shortly after the incident that they “suspect the crime has links to the gangs environment.” According to officials, there were links between the artist and one or more criminal networks. Thomas Fuxborg, a spokesperson for police in the region, said, per Sky News, that the current theory is that “several men had been waiting for him in the garage when he came to park his car.”

Police are also reportedly interested in a silver Volvo V70 that had been seen in the garage during the shooting. Police spokesperson Annika Laag said a “witness saw a car that is seen in connection with what happened. We are investigating whether it is true.” Laag added that authorities “are working to collect witness information from as many (locals) as we can and continue to work on the technical investigation.”

Following the shooting, police reportedly raided an address in Gothenburg, and several people have since been brought in for questioning. Three days after the shooting, Swedish prosecutors confirmed on Friday, June 7 that two people were apprehended in connection to the case. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement that “prosecutors have arrested two people on probable cause suspected of aiding and abetting the murder.” There are currently no named suspects.

C. Gambino was a popular artist who, just a month before his passing, was named Swedish hip-hop artist of 2023. He released his latest single, “Sista Gang’ (Last Time),” on May 31. The late artist notably kept his identity hidden by wearing a mask in public and was considered to be “one of Swedish hip hop’s greats,” with rap expert Petter Hallen told news agency TT that his passing was “a heavy blow to the rap scene in Gothenburg and all of Sweden. What’s even more tragic is that he had recently moved away from just the dark criminal stuff, towards more expressions of relationships and feelings.”