SAN DIEGO,CA – August 9,2025 – the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has officially closed its investigation into a July 15th shooting incident involving rapper Troy Ave and celebrity chef Geoff cole,citing insufficient evidence. The case,initially reported as a heroic act where Troy Ave allegedly thwarted a robbery,has been deemed “not substantiated” by authorities.
Background: The Incident and Initial Reports
On July 15, 2025, celebrity chef geoff Cole, owner of the San Diego-based “Coastal Cuisine” catering company, reported an attempted robbery at a private residence in the La Jolla neighborhood. Initial reports,fueled by social media posts from Cole himself,indicated that Troy Ave intervened,firing a weapon and successfully driving off the would-be robber. Cole publicly thanked the rapper, whose legal name is Roland Collins, for saving his life.
Footage of the incident, showing a man resembling troy Ave discharging a firearm, quickly circulated online. The incident garnered significant attention, with many initially praising the rapper’s quick thinking and bravery.
Doubts Emerge and Investigation Stalls
However, within days, questions began to surface regarding the authenticity of the event. Sources close to both Cole and Collins alleged the incident was staged, primarily for social media engagement. These sources claimed that no live rounds were fired and that the entire scenario was pre-planned. Critically, no official police report was ever filed by Geoff Cole following the alleged robbery attempt.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation, led by Detective Sergeant Maria Hernandez of the La Jolla substation. Despite reviewing available footage and interviewing potential witnesses, investigators were unable to corroborate Cole’s account or identify a verifiable victim. The lack of a formal report and conflicting statements further hampered the investigation.
troy Ave Denies Involvement
On July 17, 2025, Troy Ave himself publicly denied being the individual depicted in the viral video. Posting on his official Instagram account, he stated, “Nah, they wildin’. This[motherf[motherfker]looks absolutely nothing like me.” He further speculated the figure in the video could be an AI-generated likeness, questioning the motives behind attempts to implicate him.He added,”For the record,I have no idea who this John Wick-looking a n**ga is.”
Past Legal Issues and Current Status
This incident occurs following Troy Ave’s completion of a one-year sentence, serving six months, related to the 2016 Irving Plaza shooting in New York City. That case involved a dispute with Taxstone (Darren Pinnock), a currently incarcerated podcaster. Collins was released from prison in August 2024 and is no longer on parole, but remains wary of further legal entanglements. The Irving Plaza shooting resulted in one fatality and injured multiple others.
With the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department closing the case, the incident remains shrouded in uncertainty, raising questions about the motivations behind the initial reports and the potential for fabricated events for online notoriety.
