Big Boogie could owe part of a $76 million verdict tied to a Dallas shooting at a show he never reached.
Big Boogie could owe a piece of a massive $76 million verdict tied to a deadly 2022 concert shooting he never even reached. He was booked to headline the event but hadn’t arrived when gunfire broke out that night.
Kealon Gilmore, 26, died from a gunshot wound to the head near the stage.
The shooting happened during the Second Annual Epic Easter Bike Out & Field Party in southern Dallas. Nearly 2,000 people showed up for a trail ride, an Easter egg hunt and a concert billed as family-friendly.
A fight broke out in the crowd, and someone then fired shots that hit at least 11 other people.
Gilmore’s family later sued the promoters, the venue and every act booked to perform that night. Court filings list Big Boogie under his legal name as one of the defendants in the case. The suit argued organizers advertised metal detectors, a bag ban and heavy security that never actually showed up.
Dallas officials confirmed the gathering never had a city permit, and the off-duty officers hired for security left the scene about 30 minutes before the shooting started, according to WFAA.
Multiple victims were shot before police could even reach the stage area, and the chaos slowed down medical help for the wounded, per WFAA’s original report from that night.
Witnesses said the crowd numbered close to 2,000 when the gunfire started. The scene turned into a panic within seconds, according to accounts from people who were there.
Big Boogie addressed the shooting directly the morning after it happened, denying any involvement or presence when the gunfire began. That early statement has stayed central to his role in the years-long court fight that followed.
Big Boogie built his name in Memphis after growing up between Louisiana and Tennessee, and Yo Gotti signed him to Collective Music Group in 2020.
His single “Mental Healing” broke out that same year and pulled in millions of streams before the deal closed. He’s since dropped projects like Underrated and Definition of Big Dude, as well as platinum records “Pop Out” and “BOP” with GloRilla.
Big Boogie released his latest album, Pain on Paper 4, through CMG in October 2025, keeping his run going even as the Dallas case followed him into 2026.