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Rapper Young Vito Indicted in Murder of Slim Dunkin

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on March 21, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

After three months of investigation, a Georgia grand jury has indicted rapper Young Vito in the December 2011 shooting death of fellow artist Slim Dunkin. Young Vito, born Vinson Hardimon, has been charged with murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

When news of the Slim Dunkin murder first broke, reports tied the altercation to a stolen piece of candy.

But it now appears the real dispute may have been a battle over studio space.

Authorities now believe the two rappers were fighting over a recording booth, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The fight ended when Young Vito allegedly shot Slim Dunkin in the chest. He fled the scene but turned himself in 10 days later.

No date has been set for the Slim Dunkin murder trial, but this little fact may be irrelevant. Chances are a plea bargain will be entered before the case even gets to trial.

Police spoke to a number of witnesses, which means Young Vito will be unable to deny the events surrounding the shooting. There are also reports that he instigated the confrontation, which means he will be unable to claim self-defense. Deadly force is also generally not considered a reasonable response to a fistfight.

If prosecutors put these facts in front of a jury, there's little question that Young Vito would likely be convicted on at least one of the Slim Dunkin murder charges. It would probably be in his interest to skip the trial and enter a plea for a lesser sentence.

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