Rapper Lil Xelly Fatally Shot Outside Rockville Hotel
Tragedy struck on January 16 when underground rapper Lil Xelly was shot and killed outside the Sleep Inn Hotel in Rockville, Maryland.
His body was discovered the next day, January 17, after Montgomery County Police noticed a white BMW riddled with bullet holes during a routine patrol near Research Boulevard and Shady Grove Road. Upon inspection, officers found a deceased male in the car, later identified as Lil Xelly. Nearby, authorities also found the body of a woman.
The police quickly connected the two deaths and arrested 25-year-old Kaloyan Dimov Stoev as the suspect. While officials have yet to officially confirm the victimsβ identities, reports strongly suggest the male victim was Lil Xelly.
A Rising Star Gone Too Soon
At just 21 years old, Lil Xelly was carving out his place in the underground rap scene. Known for his relentless work ethic and relatable lyrics, he connected deeply with young fans by sharing his personal journey through music.
His musical aspirations began in middle school, where he started recording and uploading tracks on platforms like Spinrilla. Though his early work didnβt gain significant traction, he found success on SoundCloud, building a loyal following.
Lil Xelly’s 2017 mixtape More Xelly marked his breakout moment, leading to other notable projects such as Lil Xelly the Mixtape (2019), Side Effects (2020), and xelly & friends (2022). With over 19,000 monthly Spotify listeners and thousands of followers on SoundCloud and YouTube, he was a rising star in the underground rap community.
Fans and fellow artists continue to mourn the loss of this young talent, whose potential was tragically cut short.
REST IN PEACE LIL XELLY π
