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Jacksonville rapper doesn't know who shot him, music blamed for shooting, attorney says

PHOTO GALLERY: Victims of the Town Center Parkway shooting

A Jacksonville rapper who was injured in a drive-by shooting that left three teen dead does not know who the gunman is, according to his attorney.

Keyanta Bullard, known as Yungeen Ace, appeared in a Clay County court Tuesday for a probation violation after turning himself in Friday, just days after the quadruple shooting on Town Center Parkway.

Bullard's attorney, David Haas, told the judge his client wants to find the person or people responsible for shooting him.

“He was not aware, he was on his phone in the front passenger seat when the shooting started. When the shooting started, he leaned over to help protect his friend in the driver seat to try to save that person’s life while risking his own life,” Haas explained.

Haas also stated authorities are trying to make Bullard appear to be involved in the shooting that killed his brother and two friends.

"The violation of probation charge has nothing to do with him getting shot. They’re trying to make the victim of the shooting somehow involved with the shooting and hold him responsible for it when all he did was try to save someone’s life.”

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He believes the sheriff "has blamed both the music and the fact that there’s supposedly a gang" for Bullard's arrest.

"He raps, he says things that people don’t like and the sheriff’s office doesn’t like that. That’s where we are."

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Bullard was denied bond and may not be able to attend the funerals of the teens. His next hearing is scheduled for July 11.

Haas said the sheriff's office doesn't want Bullard to be able to.

"Instead of trying to foster a relationship with the African American community to encourage people to come forward, they’re putting my client in jail,” Haas said.