Police: Rapper Rick Ross targeted by shooter

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Fort Lauderdale Police are searching for the shooter who opened fire on Rapper Rick Ross, forcing him to crash his Rolls Royce into a building.

Police also confirmed Shateria L. Moragne-el was the woman in the car with Ross at the time of the shooting and crash Monday morning. Moragne-el owns the fashion line Frontrow Couture.

Ross was briefly seen walking out of the Floridian restaurant, near the crash scene, after police questioned him. He and Moragne-el were not injured.

Police said they gathered dozens of bullet casings from Las Olas Boulevard and Northeast 15th Avenue, where the shooting occurred. The bullets missed the Rolls and the alleged intended target, the well-known recording artist Rick Ross.

Witnesses reported hearing many shots. An anonymous witness said, "It wasn't like little pea-shooters, you know what I mean? It was like pam, pam, pam, sounded like an automatic. It was about 20 gunshots. Not only the Floridian got hit but Luigi's across the street, also had a bullet. Also the bridal place across the street had a bullet."

Several businesses in the area were hit by the gunfire, but luckily, Police said, no one was injured. One woman was woken up by the chaos. "It was about 5:30 in the morning, jumped out of bed, looked out the window, and there's a car in my front yard," said Beth Ball.

Though not injured, police said both Ross and Moragne-el were both very shaken by the event. Theories as to what sparked the shooting is already spreading among fans. Ross' life had allegedly been threatened after he name-dropped Larry Hoover in a lyric. Hoover, who is currently in prison, is a well-known founder of a Chicago gang and members of that gand have threatened Ross. Curt Broadway lives nearby and offered some perspective. "The Gangster Disciples, a street gang, is upset with him for using the name Larry Hoover in one of his raps, and they've told him that he will not rest in peace until they settle this beef."

The shooting has left a popular neighborhood on edge. "Quiet area. You wouldn't expect a shooting here. Then again, nobody expects a shooting," said Eldrich Allen.

The Rolls Royce has since been towed away from the scene.

Ross had been out celebrating his 37th birthday. He began the night at a club in South Beach before heading to the Las Olas area.

Police continue to investigate. George Maznicki works nearby, and he said he is scanning his surveillance footage to help police in the investigation. "I'm just going through the tape trying to time-stamp when the event happen."

If you have any information on this drive-by shooting, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

(Copyright 2013 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)