Daily Pulse

Cassidy Facing Lesser Charge

Philadelphia rapper Cassidy is facing a third-degree instead of first-degree murder charge for his alleged involvement in an April 15th drive-by shooting that left one man dead.

Judge Marsha Neifield said August 16th that prosecutors didn’t have enough evidence against Cassidy — real name Barry Reese — to support the first-degree charge. The rapper also faces charges of attempted murder and weapons offenses.

Prosecutor Deborah Watson-Stokes said she will appeal the charge reduction.

The judge set bail at $2.5 million but ordered Reese to stay behind bars pending the appeal. He has been jailed since June 17th.

Reese and two other men allegedly shot up a vehicle parked in a driveway in the performer’s neighborhood. One of three men inside the vehicle, Desmond Hawkins, was killed and the others were seriously injured.

Police said Hawkins and Reese had argued earlier that day.

The rapper’s new J Records release, I’m a Hustla, dropped June 28th.

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