The tumultuous life of rapper 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, took another dramatic turn when he was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Friday night. The arrest was in connection to an assault case involving two music producers. The incident was allegedly related to a dispute over the rapper’s girlfriend, Dominican singer Yailin La mas viral, according to reports by Diario Libre.
Known for his distinctive rainbow-colored hair and a ’69’ tattooed on his forehead, 6ix9ine’s legal journey has been far from smooth. He previously faced the prospect of decades in prison as part of a racketeering case. In that case, he was accused of using a violent gang as his ‘personal hit squad.’ However, he avoided an extended sentence by providing crucial testimony against the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, which, in turn, earned him the reputation of a ‘snitch.’
A video capturing the moment of Hernandez’s arrest shows the rapper being led down the steps outside a hotel. A crowd gathered, cheering and documenting the scene on their cellphones.
The arrest was confirmed by Dominican Republic-based criminal lawyer Felix Portes, who made a series of posts on Instagram. Portes explained that Hernandez was attempting to flee the country on a private jet but was intercepted due to a ‘migration alert’ triggered by the existing arrest warrant.
While the actual assault was not caught on video, a clip does reveal a group of men gathered outside a building, which is said to be moments before the attack occurred. The men are seen leaving hurriedly a few minutes after arriving.
According to reports by Diario Libre, the assault took place at a studio where Yailin was recording a song with producer Diamond La Mafia. Five men, including Hernandez, are alleged to have attacked Yailin and another individual. La Mafia explained that Yailin left the studio prior to the attack. When the men arrived and couldn’t locate her, they entered the studio and began their assault.
The other victim, struck with the butt of a gun, required surgery to realign his jaw, as reported by Diario Libre. Diamond La Mafia has accused Hernandez of acting out of ‘jealousy’ due to his relationship with Yailin.
Felix Portes revealed that Hernandez was arrested in the town of Samana and will be transferred to La Vega to face charges related to the assault.
This arrest adds another chapter to 6ix9ine’s tumultuous life, which includes a prior arrest for failure to appear in Florida related to traffic violations. In addition, just four months before the Dominican Republic incident, 6ix9ine was violently attacked at an LA Fitness gym in Florida, sustaining severe injuries, including gashes, bruises, and swelling on his jaw, ribs, and back.
Following the brutal attack, the assailants boasted about the assault on social media. They labeled Hernandez a ‘rat’ who would not be tolerated in their neighborhood. While physically assaulting him, they filmed the incident, with one assailant heard saying, ‘Take a picture, take a picture – I am going to be famous now.’
The exact trigger for the Florida attack remains unknown, but it further complicates 6ix9ine’s already tumultuous journey in the world of hip-hop.
6ix9ine’s legal dealings have made headlines repeatedly. His collaboration with authorities and controversial testimony led to his reduced prison sentence, leaving the rap world divided over his actions. Initially facing a potential 47-year minimum sentence, he ultimately served only two years behind bars.