Defendant in gang case involving rapper Young Thug stabbed at Atlanta jail

Miguel Martinez/TNS/Zuma/File

  In the ongoing racketeering trial against purported members of Young Slime Life, a street gang allegedly led by Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug, a defendant named Shannon Stillwell was stabbed overnight in the Fulton County jail, as reported by authorities in Atlanta.

Shannon Stillwell is currently hospitalized, according to Natalie Ammons of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

"I'm obviously very concerned about my client, and I'm gathering information at this time," commented Max Schardt, Stillwell's attorney.

The incident prompted Judge Ural Glanville to announce a medical issue during the court session on Monday morning, leading to the court's recess for the rest of the day.

Shannon Stillwell, a defendant in the racketeering trial, is facing two murder charges, along with other counts. His attorney, Max Schardt, delivered opening statements last month asserting Stillwell's innocence.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has accused Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, of being the co-founder of a criminal street gang, allegedly responsible for violent acts spanning a decade. Prosecutors claim that YSL, representing Young Stoner Life Records, also stands for Young Slime Life, an Atlanta-based street gang affiliated with the national Bloods gang.

Young Thug, along with Stillwell and numerous others, was charged under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

Last December, several defendants, including rapper Gunna, accepted plea deals, while others were separated from the case. Stillwell is one of six defendants who have pleaded not guilty to all charges and are currently standing trial in Atlanta.

Among the charges, Stillwell is accused of involvement in the killing of Donovan Thomas, an alleged member of a rival gang who was shot in 2015. According to court documents, prosecutors allege that Young Thug rented a car used by YSL members in the commission of the crime.

Shannon Stillwell's attorney previously stated in court that his client has been "wrongfully accused of two separate murders" and entered a plea of "absolutely not guilty." The charges against Stillwell include conspiracy to violate the RICO Act. The defense contends that while Stillwell has engaged in selling marijuana in the past, those actions were personal decisions unrelated to YSL (Young Stoner Life) or anyone else involved in the case.

The attorney, Max Schardt, urged the court to focus on evidence from scientific sources rather than relying on the accounts of individuals wearing jail uniforms, emphasizing the color blue. He said, "I’m going to ask you to focus on things like science, instead of stories."

This is a developing story and will be updated.