Allstar JR, the Detroit rapper currently in federal custody on a felon-in-possession charge, has been hit with an additional state charge in Texas tied to the April shooting that left NBA Ben 10 with permanent paralysis.
According to Harris County court records, Jeremy Christopher Ford, known professionally as Allstar JR, is now facing a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault causing traumatic brain or spine injury. The charge stems from the April 8 incident at Confessions restaurant-lounge in Houston’s Upper Kirby neighborhood.
The victim, Ben Anthony Fields, who performs as NBA Ben 10 and is affiliated with NBA YoungBoy, suffered a severe spinal cord injury during the altercation. Medical documentation cited in court filings indicates Fields has no sensation from the waist down and has been diagnosed with irreversible paralysis in his lower extremities. He has been recovering in a wheelchair.
Details surrounding the incident, drawn from surveillance footage and federal complaints, describe a physical altercation that escalated when a group including Fields allegedly attempted to rob Ford of his jewelry. A handgun was reportedly dropped during the struggle, after which Ford allegedly picked it up and opened fire. Authorities say he continued shooting as people fled, striking multiple individuals, including Fields, who was hit in the neck/spine area. Video evidence is said to show Ford firing additional rounds at close range after Fields was on the ground, followed by pistol-whipping the victim before fleeing the scene.
Ford, 36, was arrested in Michigan later that month and has been held in federal custody. He faces a federal felon-in-possession of a firearm charge related to the same incident, which carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. A federal judge denied him bond, citing his criminal history — including a prior 2014 home invasion conviction in Michigan — and the violent nature of the case. His federal trial is scheduled for July 6 in Houston.
The new Harris County charge significantly raises the stakes. In Texas, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury is punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison. The state case will proceed separately from the federal proceedings. This development adds to the growing list of high-profile violent incidents involving rap figures in recent years.
Ford allegedly confessed to authorities following his arrest and has since faced scrutiny for reportedly posting taunting social media content and releasing music referencing the shooting.
The incident has sparked heated debate within rap and street communities online, with opinions split between those viewing Ford’s actions as self-defense during an alleged robbery attempt and others criticizing what they describe as excessive force based on the available video. Similar cases have drawn attention from outlets covering criminal justice issues in the music industry.
The case continues to develop as both federal and state prosecutors move forward.
