Jack Harlow's DJ charged in fatal shooting at Louisville nightclub, prosecutors say

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Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this report incorrectly characterized a previous fatal shooting at the X-clusive nightclub in Shively, Kentucky, last August. Police say Ronnie T. O'Bannon is "a person of interest" in that case.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The DJ for Louisville rapper Jack Harlow is accused of shooting and killing a woman during a pre-Kentucky Derby party at Vibes Restaurant and Ultra Lounge, Commonwealth's Attorney Thomas Wine's office announced Tuesday.

Ronnie T. O’Bannon, better known as Ronnie Lucciano or DJ Drama, has been charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence after Louisville Metro Police said he shot the woman around 1:30 a.m. May 1 inside the Vibes nightclub.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office later identified the woman as Kasmira Nash, 37, of Louisville, and friends and family said she worked at Vibes as a bartender.

O’Bannon, 27, has a Louisville address, according to online court records.

Louisville attorney Rob Eggert told The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, he is representing O'Bannon. O’Bannon is expected to be formally arraigned at Jefferson Circuit Court on Monday at 3:30 p.m., according to the release from Wine's office.

LMPD spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said previously that Nash was pronounced dead at Vibes, and a man who was also shot was taken to University of Louisville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Background: Woman fatally shot inside Vibes nightclub during 'Derby Weekend Kickoff' party

Vibes Restaurant and Ultra Lounge was the scene of a shooting May 1, 2001, at a pre-Kentucky Derby party
Vibes Restaurant and Ultra Lounge was the scene of a shooting May 1, 2001, at a pre-Kentucky Derby party

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Vibes was hosting a "2021 Derby Weekend Kickoff" party that Friday night before the next day's horse racing spectacle, according to its Facebook page, with DJ Drama a featured guest.

Harlow, who received a Grammy nomination this year in the "Best Rap Performance" category for his hit "Whats Poppin," is signed to DJ Drama's Generation Now record label.

"Authorities say the club was well attended at the time of the incident, however there were no other injuries," Smiley said. "The Homicide Unit is handling the investigation and believe both shootings took place inside the venue.”

Police have not confirmed whether Harlow was inside the nightclub at the time of the shooting, though video posted online claims to show Harlow inside the venue when gunfire rang out.

The owner of Vibes Restaurant and Ultra Lounge said he is not commenting on the case, but the business later released a statement on its social media channels.

"This past weekend the Vibes Family suffered the tragic loss of our very own Kasmira 'Kash' Nash," the statement said. "As experienced by many of you, Kash was a wonderful daughter, sister, mother and friend to us all. We are deeply saddened and devastated by this loss. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to her children, loved ones and entire family."

Harlow and O'Bannon were both at Churchill Downs several hours before the Vibes event for Oaks Day, per social media posts, with Harlow also indicating he planned to attend the Kentucky Derby the following day.

Harlow had been tapped to perform the honor at this year's Derby of yelling "riders up" before the jockeys head to the starting gate, but a change was made at the last minute, with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas stepping in.

Harlow wasn't seen at the track at all on Derby Day.

Churchill Downs Inc. spokeswoman Tonya Abeln said that the racetrack heard from "Jack’s management on Saturday morning indicating that he would not be able to participate in the engagement to perform riders up."

"We were told the reason was health-related and had no further follow-up," Abeln said.

O'Bannon talked with Revolt TV in April about how he helped propel Harlow’s rap career with the Private Garden collective and how he has been the DJ for the rapper since his first tour in 2018.

O'Bannon also is "a person of interest" in the August fatal shooting of Torre Foree, 39, outside the X-clusive nightclub in Shively, according to Sgt. Patrick Allen, a spokesman for Shively Police. O'Bannon has not been charged in the case.

A spokesman for Wine's office said "no final decision has been made regarding charges in this shooting."

Shively Police said the case is still open. In a release on Wednesday, Allen said the department has only "third-party information as to who was responsible".

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Jack Harlow's DJ Drama charged in Louisville nightclub death