CIVIC CENTER — The first thing rapper Troy Ave plans to do after being released from jail following a deadly May shooting at Irving Plaza is sit down to a plate of his mother's broccoli rabe and penne and catch up on "Game of Thrones," according to his mother.
A judge released Troy Ave, whose legal name is Roland Collins, on $500,000 bail on Monday after he agreed to wear an ankle monitor, abide by an 11 p.m. curfew, and to stay away from bars, nightclubs and other venues while he awaits charges of attempted murder and weapons possession stemming from the May 25 shooting.
Wearing Givenchy sandals and a black Givenchy sweatshirt tied around his shoulders, the rapper hoisted himself out of a wheelchair and limped out of court on Monday with help from his brother and lawyer.
New York Supreme Court Justice Ronald Zweibel also ordered Troy Ave to remain within the five boroughs and surrender his passport at the request of prosecutors.
Troy Ave's lawyer, John Stella, argued the nightclub and travel bans would render the rapper unable to make a living or visit his two young children in New Jersey. But Zweibel was not swayed and went by the recommendation of the prosecution.
Troy Ave has been locked up since May 26, the day after the chaotic shootout that killed his childhood friend and bodyguard Ronald McPhatter, 33, and left Troy Ave and two others wounded.
Police arrested him after releasing security footage that showed Troy Ave stumbling out of the club’s second-floor green room and letting off at least one shot from a semiautomatic handgun as bystanders dove for cover.
The gun, which had Troy Ave’s DNA on it and which police said fired the fatal shot that killed McPhatter, was later found in Troy Ave’s car after he was driven to NYU Langone Medical Center with gunshot wounds to his legs.
According to Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass, Troy Ave and his crew have been uncooperative with investigators and have refused to tell police who their adversary was that night.
“While we continue to investigate the death of Ronald McPhatter, this investigation has been hampered by the outset by the defendant and his entourage,” Steinglass said. “They have refused to help in any way.”
But for now, Troy Ave is headed home. The $500,000 bond was secured using Troy Ave's mother's home in Crown Heights.
Speaking exclusively with DNAinfo shortly before her son's release, Troy Ave's mother, Tracey Collins, said she's looking forward to cooking broccoli rabe, penne, and sausage for her son and catching up on "Game of Thrones" with him. She stopped keeping up with the hit HBO series when he was arrested so they could watch together, Collins said.
“He’s a grown man and he has to stand on his own, but right now I’m just so grateful he’s alive, and that’s all that matters,” she said.
Greeted by a small crowd of friends and family, Troy Ave limped into his mother's arms.
Downstairs, Troy Ave's entourage ushered him into a waiting SUV, parked on Centre Street blaring the song “Chuck Norris” off his newest mixtape “Free Troy Ave.”
He is expected back in court on Sept. 8, when Zweibel will rule on motions submitted by the prosecution and defense.
