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Rapper killed at teen's birthday party

Reported by: Elizabeth Dinh
Email: edinh@wfts.com
Reported by: Chad Cookler
Reported by: Victoria Benchimol
Last Update: 10/31 7:50 pm
Shamir Gamelo
Shamir Gamelo
HOLIDAY, FL- A young man hoping to make it big one day.

That's how Shamir Garnelo's sister described the 21-year-old aspiring rapper. But his dreams of stardom will not come true, after he was killed ad at a teenage girl's birthday party early Saturday morning.

Pasco County deputies found Garnelo, a Plant City resident, dead  inside the American Legion Hall on Arcadia Road just before 2 am. The teen's family had rented the hall for the party.

Garnelo, who performs under the names Briyante and DJ Nelo, had been hired to perform there, detectives said. 

Witnesses say over 100 hundred people came to see DJ Nelo and other local latin and hip-hop artists perform.  But crime scene tape shows how the fun ended.

Detectives interviewed Tabitha Johnston, who remembers briefly talking to Garnelo at the party.

"There was no need for that you know? He was a good guy. He didn't seem like he deserved it." she said.

Johnston addedeverything was fine, until someone made the terrible discovery. Garnelo, dead inside a bathroom.

Investigators have not said how he was killed.

The rapper's murderer, among the large crowd that was at the party, has yet to be found, and detectives have not given any suspect description.

Garnelo's sister says his family is mourning tonight, and are hoping anyone with information will come forward.

If you know anything you are being urged to call Det. James Gariepy at 1-800-854-2862, extension 7279.

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