Viral US rapper OG Maco dead after self inflicted gunshot

A popular US rapper has tragically died in heartbreaking circumstances after doctors battled to save his life following a horror incident.

US rapper OG Maco has died aged 32, just weeks after being found with an apparent gunshot wound.

The U Guessed It star had been rushed to hospital on December 12, leading to swirling death rumours that had been squashed by his family.

He died on Thursday around his family in a LA hospital, reports claim.

Maco, whose real name is Benedict Chiajulam Ihesiba Jr., was found unresponsive in his home in Los Angeles in December, according to New York radio station WQHT.

Rapper OG Maco has tragically died from his injuries. Picture: Getty

The rapper, 32, was found with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, AllHipHop reported.

He underwent emergency surgery, and Poppa Perc, the rapper’s manager, told AllHipHop at the time that Maco was on “life support, still fighting.”

“They are doing multiple tests on his brain and trying to let the swelling go down a bit, let his head heal a little bit, so they can do a procedure,” he said.

“Only immediate family is allowed at the hospital, but we’ve been getting updates.”

“I thought he was dead when I first saw him,” the manager said upon finding the rapper unresponsive.

“We need everyone’s prayers, but don’t get your hopes up,” he added.

The family of the rapper later hit out against vile rumours circulating online that Maco had died, saying he was “continuing to fight”.

On Friday the family confirmed his tragic death.

In a statement, the late star’s family said: “With heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Ben, known to the world as OG Maco.

He passed away on Thursday after his condition took a turn for the worse. Picture: Getty.

“His life was a testament to resilience, creativity, and boundless love.

“Through his music, passion, and unwavering spirit, he touched so many lives and left a lasting impact.”

OG Maco first appeared on the rap scene in 2014 with his smash debut single U Guessed It featuring 2 Chainz.

Maco, who was born in College Park, Georgia, was featured on XXL’s annual Freshman Class in 2015.

He graced the hip-hop magazine’s cover alongside Fetty Wap, Glizzy, Ince Staples, K Camp, and DeJ Loaf, among others.

However, Maco’s ascend was derailed following a car accident in 2016 that left him with several severe injuries.

Maco suffered a cracked vertebrae, heart palpitations, broken orbital, and multiple skill fractures.

In 2019, he revealed that he had developed necrotising fasciitis, a “skin-eating disease” that affected his face and scalp, after being “improperly treated for a minor rash.”

“I’ve been going through this for about three months, and everybody I really thought I could depend on wasn’t there,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “People who I’ve given all my love to — all of everything to just didn’t show up and it caused me to not really trust anybody or believe in anything.”

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission.