Richard Morales, better known as Gunplay to his fans, did a little victory hop Monday. He said it's what he wanted to do in court when charges against him were dropped.
"I feel humbled. I feel blessed. I feel like I hit the lotto,” Morales, 33, told NBC 6 South Florida. “I'm just happy to be back with my friends and family."
The local rapper, who had been on house arrest since October, said he is getting a second chance after facing a potential life sentence for armed robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a firearm charges.
Police said last year that Morales and codefendant Randy Jones robbed a man at The Tax Place at 14628 NW 7th Ave. on April 13. Surveillance video posted on TMZ.com of the incident showed Morales, who was holding a gun, striking a man in an office. Morales said that one of the men is an accountant and the other man in the video is his friend – and said he is remorseful that he let his temper get the better of him.
"I just wanted to publicly for the record apologize to the two parties involved, my family, the victim's family,” Morales said.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said a judge ruled the case had to be dropped because the video could not be admitted into the case, as the victim did not cooperate with the prosecution.
Now Morales, who is a protégé of Rick Ross – and signed to the record label Ross helped found, Maybach Music – said he is eager to head back to work.
Local
"Shout out to the boss – you already know the Miami mayor, man, was behind me the whole time,” Morales said.
Morales spoke about the recent Fort Lauderdale shooting that caused Ross’ Rolls Royce to crash into an apartment building as he tried to get away. Morales said that Ross has “been through way worse” – shaking his hand over his shoulder – and said that it’s nothing for Ross.
Meantime, Morales hopes to shake off his incident, and move on.
“And I ain’t going to blow it,” he said. “I’m ready to work. I’m real focused.”
VIDEO: 911 Calls Released in Fort Lauderdale Rick Ross Shooting
