Witness describes fatal shooting of Miami rapper

Friends, family react to shooting death of rap artist Robert 'Bizzle' LeBranche

MIAMI – Police are still searching for a gunman who killed a popular South Florida rapper. 

Family, friends and fans spent the day bringing flowers to a memorial where Robert LeBranche, 37, was shot Monday night

DJs at 99 Jamz said calls and Tweets poured in all day Tuesday following LeBranche's death. He was known as "Bizzle" or "Chowtime" to his fans.

"He gave jobs to the community, you know, so people weren't having to turn to violence or crime ," said Mike Bridges, DJ "Mike B" at 99 Jamz. "He was just a positive guy all the way around."

LeBranche was at a car wash he owned on the corner of NW 7th Avenue and 54th Street when a witness said he got into an argument and then a fight with another man. 

"He stood there for a little bit and then he swung at him. When he swung at him, he missed. The other guy backed up and pulled a gun out," said the witness, who asked not to be identified. "So, we got out the way and then he opened fire on him. He opened fire on -- he emptied a clip."

The witness was washing cars at the time of the shooting.

"I came around the corner and the victim was getting up and he said, 'Why do you me like that?' So, I was thinking he just shot around him, okay, but the other dude, he came back out of the shadows and shot him again about six or seven times," said the witness.

LeBranche's two children were sitting in an SUV on the other side of the business where the shooting took place. The children did not witness their father being shot.

Friends say LeBranche had a passion for music, basketball and his two sons.  

"He was a good person to know. A Lord's person. Friendly and outgoing," said a man outside LeBranche's Miami home. 

A Facebook page remembering him has more than 8,000 likes since the news of his death. 

Police said they identified the shooter and hoped to arrest in him by the end of the day Tuesday. Miami Police is asking anyone with information to call 305-603-6640.