King Von Autopsy: Official Cause of Death and New Details Revealed
The hip-hop community was shaken to its core on November 6, 2020, when Dayvon Daquan Bennett, known professionally as King Von, was fatally wounded during an altercation in Atlanta, Georgia. In the years following the tragedy, the release of the King Von Autopsy: Official Cause of Death and New Details Revealed provided forensic confirmation regarding the specific injuries that claimed the life of the 26-year-old Chicago drill rapper. This report analyzes the findings of the Fulton County Medical Examiner, the circumstances surrounding the shooting outside the Monaco Hookah Lounge, and the subsequent closure of the investigation regarding the ballistics involved.
The Night of the Incident: A Timeline of Events
To understand the medical findings, one must first contextualize the chaotic events that precipitated Bennett’s death. On the night of the incident, King Von and a group of associates arrived at the Monaco Hookah Lounge on Trinity Avenue in Atlanta. According to surveillance footage released by the Atlanta Police Department (APD), an argument ensued almost immediately between Bennett’s group and a crew associated with Savannah-based rapper Quando Rondo.
The physical confrontation escalated rapidly into a shootout. The exchange of gunfire involved members of both entourages, as well as plainclothes, off-duty police officers who were working security at the venue, and on-duty officers patrolling nearby. In the mayhem, Bennett was struck multiple times. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries later that day. The rapid escalation from a fistfight to lethal gunplay highlights the volatile nature of the conflict, a factor that complicated the initial ballistic investigation.
Findings from the Fulton County Medical Examiner
The release of the official autopsy report provided a clinical analysis of the trauma Bennett sustained. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office concluded that the manner of death was homicide. The specific cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. Unlike the speculation that circulated on social media immediately following the shooting, the autopsy provided a precise map of the entry and exit wounds that proved fatal.
Forensic pathologists identified that Bennett suffered significant internal trauma. The bullets damaged vital organs, leading to catastrophic blood loss. While emergency medical personnel at Grady Memorial Hospital attempted surgical intervention to repair the damage, the severity of the wounds to the chest and abdomen rendered survival statistically impossible. The report indicated that despite the swift transport to the hospital, the nature of the ballistic trauma was simply too extensive.
The King Von Autopsy: Official Cause of Death and New Details Revealed also clarified the toxicology aspect of the investigation. Standard procedure in violent deaths involves a full toxicology screen to determine if substances played a role in the physiological response to trauma. While specific chemical levels are often kept private depending on state laws and family wishes, the primary focus of the report remained on the mechanical damage caused by the firearms.
Ballistics and the Question of Who Fired the Fatal Shot
One of the most contentious aspects of the investigation was determining who fired the shots that killed King Von. Given that police officers discharged their weapons during the incident, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) launched an independent probe to determine if Bennett was struck by police fire or by the rival group.
The ballistic analysis, correlated with the autopsy evidence, confirmed that the fatal bullets did not originate from law enforcement service weapons. The investigation concluded that the shots were fired by Timothy Leeks, also known as Lul Timm, an associate of Quando Rondo. The GBI officially closed its case regarding the officers involved, stating that their use of force was justified given the active shooter scenario, but they were not responsible for Bennett's death. This distinction was crucial for the legal proceedings that followed, removing the liability from the APD and placing it squarely on the individuals involved in the initial altercation.
The Controversy of Leaked Mortuary Images
A disturbing subplot to the release of official information was the unauthorized leak of graphic photos taken at the mortuary. Shortly after Bennett’s death, images purportedly showing his body on the autopsy table began circulating on social media platforms. This breach of privacy sparked outrage among Bennett’s family, his management team, and his fanbase.
Kayla B, King Von’s sister, publicly addressed the leak, expressing the family's anguish. The unauthorized dissemination of such images is a significant breach of protocol within the medical examiner's office and the funeral home services. While the King Von Autopsy: Official Cause of Death and New Details Revealed serves a legal and public record purpose, the leaked images served only to sensationalize a tragedy. The airport mortuary service involved eventually came under scrutiny, highlighting the need for stricter chain-of-custody protocols regarding the bodies of high-profile individuals.
Legal Aftermath and Charges Dropped
The medical and ballistic evidence led to the arrest of Timothy Leeks, who was charged with felony murder. Leeks was injured in the same shootout and was hospitalized before being taken into custody. For years, the case moved slowly through the Fulton County legal system. However, in a turn of events that shocked the hip-hop world, charges against Leeks were dropped in August 2023.
Prosecutors cited Georgia’s "Stand Your Ground" laws as the primary reason for the dismissal. Under this statute, individuals have the right to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others. Defense attorneys argued that Leeks was acting in defense of Quando Rondo, who appeared to be under physical attack by King Von and his entourage in the moments preceding the shooting. The video evidence, combined with the autopsy’s confirmation of the physical altercation, supported the defense's motion, leading to the case's dismissal.
Impact on the Drill Music Scene
The death of King Von left a vacuum in the Chicago drill music scene. At the time of his death, he was celebrating the release of his debut studio album, "Welcome to O'Block," which had dropped just a week prior. The project was receiving critical acclaim and was poised to propel him to mainstream superstardom. The autopsy report served as a grim final chapter to a life that had been defined by the harsh realities of street life, which Von vividly chronicled in his music.
Critics and sociologists often point to Von's death as a case study in the dangerous intersection of internet fame and real-world violence. The "taunting" culture prevalent in drill music, where rivals mock dead enemies, often fuels retaliatory violence. The forensic details of his death underscored the brutality of these conflicts, stripping away the glamour often associated with the lifestyle in music videos.
Conclusion: The Finality of the Evidence
The release of the King Von Autopsy: Official Cause of Death and New Details Revealed brought a forensic finality to the speculation surrounding Dayvon Bennett’s death. It confirmed that he died from gunshot wounds inflicted during a peer-on-peer confrontation, exonerated police from the fatal shots, and provided the evidence used in the controversial legal decision to drop charges against the suspect.
While the legal case may be closed, the cultural impact of King Von’s death remains. The autopsy report stands as a document of record, detailing the physical end of a turbulent life, while his music continues to resonate with millions of fans worldwide. As the hip-hop community continues to grapple with the loss of young talent to gun violence, the objective facts of the case serve as a somber reminder of the permanence of such tragedies.
