ROGERS PARK — A controversial Rogers Park rapper well known in the neighborhood for starring in a series of violent and provocative videos was the target of an arrest warrant that led to a five-hour standoff earlier this week, a source said.
Keith Hayer, aka rapper Bang Da Hitta, was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing after the Monday standoff with police, officials said.
The standoff included armored vehicles, a SWAT team, circling helicopters, warming buses and headaches for neighbors.
Hayer, 23, and seven other people barricaded themselves into an apartment unit at 1608 W. Sherwin Ave. about 2:40 a.m. after officers attempted to serve a warrant, police said.
Hayer — an admitted gang member — was the target of the warrant for an earlier alleged offense, a source with knowledge of the incident said.
By about 8 a.m., the barricade situation had been resolved and the suspects were taken into custody.
Hayer and the others — Jontaye Walker, 22; Nicholas Oaks, 25; Ashley Lawrence, 19; Akoya Williams, 19; Max Chesser, 25; Stacey Terrell, 20; and Lawrence Herron, 26 — were each charged with two misdemeanors, criminal trespass to residential property and criminal damage to property, said Bari Lemmon, a Chicago Police Department spokeswoman.
Hayer was issued a $10,000 bond in court Tuesday morning, said Steve Campbell, a spokesman for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
It was unclear whether he had been released from custody.
Hayer's notoriety grew after he and others appeared to flaunt an arsenal of firearms in his videos published on YouTube — while calling for the death of rival gang members, including the "L'z."
"L'z" is a nickname for a Howard Street gang called LOCs, or Loyalty Over Cash. Hayer has admitted to being a part of a rival gang called the ICGs, or Insane Cutthroat Gangsters, authorities say.
In March, Hayer was charged with selling pot near a park in Rogers Park.
In September, Hayer's car was intentionally set ablaze in the 1200 block of West Lunt Avenue. Police said the incident was gang related.
A post on Hayer's rap persona Facebook page — which has since been deleted — read: "Owow Yall Blow Up Carz.. But B---- We Blow Up Bodyz.. I Aint F--- Up Bout It Tho."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
