Lil Wayne's Friend Keith 'Magic' Atkinson Killed By Police In New Orleans

Lil Wayne's return home to New Orleans for NBA All-Star weekend turned tragic after a close friend was fatally shot by police on Sunday morning.

A representative from the New Orleans Police Department confirmed with MTV News that 31-year old Keith "Magic" Atkinson was shot four times on Sunday after police officer Jonathan Hirdes responded to
a shoplifting call from a store at 9:18 a.m. in the Hollygrove section of the city where Wayne grew up.
The whole incident reportedly stemmed over a stolen bottle of juice.
Police are saying that a .45-caliber gun was found lying next to Atkinson's body, but detectives are investigating the circumstances which led to the fatal shooting.
"What could he have done to deserve that in broad open daylight," Atkinson's father, Keith Joseph told WDSU News as he stood on the scene.
"You got 20 casings on the ground from one police and witnesses saying he emptied the clip in him. Stood over him," he continued.
While police are still trying to determine what happened, Lil Wayne and other friends allege that police mistook Atkinson's drink for a gun. (Neither Wayne nor Mack Maine were on the scene.)
"R.I.P 2my homie Magik from my hood,just with him last nite kops killed him this morning, had a drink in his hand,not a gun.dats dat bullsh--," Wayne tweeted on Sunday night.
"Just saw my homey last night hadn't spoke to him in a minute...today the police killed him....crazy...#RIPMagic #Hollygrove17th," Mack Maine tweeted on Sunday. "Told my homey put ya hands up he went to put his hands up and had a drink in his hands they thought it was a gun....sh-- wild out here."