Rapper Lil Poppa
Dead From Gunshot to Head …
Death Ruled Suicide
Published
February 19, 2026
11:21 AM PST
|
Updated
February 19, 2026
12:00 PM PST
Rapper Lil Poppa died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound … TMZ has learned.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia tells TMZ the rapper — real name Janarious Mykel Wheeler — died after being shot in the head … his death has been ruled a suicide.
Lil Poppa’s cause of death comes out just a day after authorities pronounced him dead.
Lil Poppa was a popular Jacksonville, Florida-based rapper and part of Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG). He released an album last year … and dropped the single “Out of Town Bae” just last week.
Fans paid tribute to the late rapper in the comments section of his most recent Instagram post … and his old collaborator Caroline “Baroline” Diaz wrote on X, “My little brother is gone, Poppa I love you so much. I am so broken. One of the first artists I had at Interscope. A&R’ed 4 of his projects. I’m so sad right now……..”
Poppa was 25.
RIP
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