Melbourne rap artist charged with murder over shooting

A popular Melbourne rap artist has been charged with murder after a 22 year old man was shot dead.

Lachlan Belmore, 24, from Mickleham appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with murder, home invasion and drug offences.

Mr Belmore, a rap artist who performs under the name of “Drips,” has over 16,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

His most popular song has over 400,000 total streams on Spotify.

“Drips”, who has an online merch store selling T-shirts and hats, shares his music across Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and has music videos up on YouTube.

Mr Belmore was arrested and charged with the 22 year old’s death as well as home invasion on Monday.

Facing the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Mr Belmore made no application for bail.

“It has been many years since he has been in custody,” Mr Belmore’s lawyer said.

Another 31 year old man from Wallan who was arrested along with Belmore and four other men was also charged with murder and home invasion.

Homicide Squad detectives arrested the six men during their investigation into the fatal shooting in Kalkallo in September.

Shortly after 4.15am on September 21, emergency services were called to an address on Oodgeroo Road in Kalkallo after reports the 22 year old man had been shot.

A 25 year old Wallan man and a 19 year old Craigieburn man were also charged with home invasion.

A 22 year old Keilor woman and 22 year old Wallan man were released pending further inquiries from police.

Police located the man dead on the property.

Mr Belmore has been remanded in custody and is expected back in court early next year.

Investigators into the shooting believed it was a targeted attack and the parties were known to each other.

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