Rapper Killed in Chicago: Chief Keef Connection?

Eighteen-year-old rapper Chicago rapper Joseph Coleman, known as "Lil JoJo," was shot and killed Tuesday, and the Chicago Sun-Times reports that police are investigating possible connections between his murder, an ongoing gang conflict in the area and a mocking Tweet sent from the account of his rap rival, Chief Keef.

Chicago police are investigating possible connections between the Tuesday slaying of a teen rapper, a raging Englewood gang conflict and a mocking Tweet on the account of the victim's rap rival — rising South Side star Chief Keef, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Witnesses said Coleman, 18, was riding double on a bike — standing on the back — when a car pulled up and someone fired six or seven shots at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Coleman was hit in the back before running to a nearby home, where he later died outside as witnesses screamed "JoJo!" witnesses said …

Hours after the murder, on Chief Keef's Twitter account, a message was posted saying, "Its Sad Cuz Dat N—— Jojo Wanted To Be Jus Like Us #LMAO."

LMAO is slang for "laughing my ass off."

That Tweet drew angry responses among Chief Keef's 224,000 Twitter followers.

His account later carried Tweets claiming it had been hacked and saying, "If u dnt talk 2 me or dro my manager … it's not real."

The 17-year-old, Chicago-born Chief Keef — whose real name is Keith Cozart — signed a record deal in June with Interscope, the same rap label of superstars including Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Eminem and Diddy.

Read more at the Chicago Sun-Times.