In a Toronto courtroom, a rapper from Regent Park took the stand to defend himself against a charge of second-degree murder, repeatedly telling the jury he feared for his life. Ridge Kazumba, who performs under the name Big Rax, is on trial for the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Negus Henry-Robinson at the Royal Caribbean Cafe on St. Clair Ave. in August 2023.
The Accused's Testimony
Dressed in a cream suit with his hair neatly braided, Kazumba presented a calm demeanor as he explained the events leading to the shooting. He testified that his friend, Mohamed Ahmed, was killed just weeks before the incident, and he had received direct threats against his life and the life of his son. "My reality, where I come from, when you kill an artist from Regent Park, it's like a badge of honour," Kazumba told the court, describing the perceived target on his back.
He stated that the recent violence had left him diagnosed with PTSD, a condition exacerbated by his mother's suicide and the loss of numerous friends to gun violence, including fellow rapper Smoke Dawg in 2018. In response to the threats against him in July 2023, Kazumba said he made emergency arrangements to move his child to a safer location and, for the first time, purchased a handgun for protection.
The Night of the Shooting
On August 24, 2023, Kazumba was with two friends at the Royal Caribbean Cafe after a recording session. He testified that he noticed two masked men and a woman peering through the restaurant's glass door, an act he found "extremely weird." He described his body freezing, convinced his "time was up."
According to the Crown's opening statement, the situation escalated when Henry-Robinson entered the restaurant to pick up food with his friend, Thulani Moncrieffe-Belmar. Elizabeth Jackson, the Crown attorney, alleged that Kazumba stood up and fired repeatedly at Henry-Robinson, who fled. She told the jury that Moncrieffe-Belmar then returned fire at Kazumba. The entire exchange was captured on surveillance video.
The court has heard that a total of 22 bullets were fired inside the small restaurant. Jackson stated that evidence would show Henry-Robinson never drew a weapon, and only two guns were fired that night—one by Kazumba and the other by Moncrieffe-Belmar.
Contrasting Narratives and Ongoing Trial
Kazumba's testimony of being "scared for my life" contrasts sharply with the Crown's narrative of an unprovoked attack. He claims he only carried a gun that day because he was afraid, and his actions were driven by a genuine belief that he was about to be killed.
The trial, now in its fifth week, continues to unfold. Thulani Moncrieffe-Belmar has pleaded not guilty to the reckless discharge of a firearm. Meanwhile, Henry-Robinson, the victim, staggered to a nearby pizza shop after being shot, where he hid his own loaded handgun under a concrete barrier before succumbing to a gunshot wound to the chest.
Kazumba's testimony will continue, but the tragic outcome of that summer evening remains: a young man is dead, and a rapper whose career had taken him on tours across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom is fighting for his freedom.
