GUNNED DOWN
A SWEDISH rapper was shot dead outside his home in Stockholm last night — a year after rivals kidnapped and claimed they sexually assaulted him.
Einar, 19, whose real name was Nils Gronberg, was shot point-blank range execution-style in the capital city's upmarket suburb of Hammarby Sjostad, police say.
7
7
7
Einar, who was the most-streamed artist on Spotify in Sweden, was shot several times in the head and the chest outside his apartment building shortly before 11pm last night.
Ambulance personnel administered first aid but he died at the scene.
Police launched a murder investigation and were hunting two suspects.
The motive of the shooting remains unclear.
But the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported the rapper had received several threats recently.
Last year, Einar was kidnapped and beaten up by rival rappers who allegedly had ties to one of Stockholm's most violent gangs.
Most read in The US Sun
The kidnappers posted pictures of him to social media while he was being held by them, and claimed they sexually assaulted him in an attempt to humiliate him.
No one was charged with sexual assault in the case.
Several people, including rappers Yasin Byn and Haval Khalil, were given prison terms for their role in the abduction.
The verdict was appealed and the case is currently being heard by the Svea Court of Appeal, which is expected to go on until December.
According to public broadcaster Sveriges Radio, Einar had been summoned to testify in the ongoing trial next week.
'PRICE ON HIS HEAD'
Einar had also been called to testify in the original district court trial, but never showed up.
Daily Aftonbladet reported Einar was living with a "price on his head" after a series of threats against him which had escalated recently.
He himself was one of several suspects arrested for a stabbing at a restaurant in central Stockholm earlier this month.
Swedish tabloid Expressen said that Einar's songs often dealt with crime and the rapper allegedly had strong connections with local criminal gangs.
Recently, he had been seen hanging out and partying with gang members.
7
Following his abduction and assault, Einar announced on Instagram he was feeling well.
He said: “Yo yo yo, what's happening Instagram, yo. Your brother here. Well, I only have one thing to say to you.
“Everyone out there can be kidnapped, everyone out there can be beaten. I feel good, I am alive and no one can do what I do so I will continue what I do as long as I stand on my feet."
The rapper made his debut at 16, released four albums, had tens of millions of streams on music platforms and won several Swedish Grammys and other awards.
Many of his songs refer to a life of crime, including drugs and weapons.
The son of Swedish actress Lena Nilsson, Einar grew up in southern Stockholm and often referred to the crime scene in the area in his work.
He started his career posting songs to social media, and broke through in 2019 releasing "Katten i trakten" (The cat in the area), which hit number one on Sweden's singles chart.
He won several music awards, including Swedish Grammys.
7
7
7
Fans and friends expressed their grief on Einar's social media.
"Einar was a real brother to me and I will miss him so much. We just released our first record last week and it feels so strange since I spoke to him just a day ago," producer Trobi wrote on Instagram.
The shooting is suspected to be linked to gang conflicts in the city - an issue that has been growing over the past decade.
Another lesser-known Swedish rapper, 23-year-old Rozh Shamal, was also killed in a 2019 gangland shooting.
Sweden has in recent years struggled to rein in rising shootings and bombings — usually settlings of scores by gangs and organised crime involved in drug trafficking.
It has gone from having one of the lowest rates of gun crime in Europe to suffering one of the highest over the past two decades.
As of October 15, 273 shootings had been recorded with 40 people dead so far in 2021, according to police statistics.
A young life has been extinguished, and I understand that he meant a lot to many young people... It is tragic
Johan Forsell
During 2020, 47 people were killed in 366 shootings in the country of 10.3 million inhabitant
Responding to the killing of Einar, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told TT: "A young life has been extinguished, and I understand that he meant a lot to many young people. It is tragic.”
Johan Forsell, law and order spokesperson for the main Moderates opposition party, said it was time to put an end to gang violence in Sweden.
"The limits of what can be accepted in a civilized country have been passed a very long time ago.
"We need action not words to turn the tide and get Sweden in order."
Minister for Gender Equality and Housing Märta Stenevi wrote on Twitter that "violence must be stopped".
Read More on The US Sun
She said: "Another young man has fallen victim to the deadly violence. Behind every headline is a family that has lost a child. I am thinking today of all those who have lost a relative."
Fans and pals expressed their grief on Einar's social media.
The scene as cops shoot knifeman after eight people stabbed in suspected terror attack in Sweden
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?
Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too.
Click here to upload yours.
Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.