SUDDEN TRAGEDY
Rapper and influencer Petty Levels mysteriously found dead at 23 as family share heartache
Tributes have flooded in for the musician who made an eerie Instagram post before her death
INFLUENCER Petty Levels was found dead in Tampa, Florida, earlier this month, cops have confirmed.
The rapper from Philadelphia, whose real name was Mia Armaj Bennett, died on July 19 at the age of 23.
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Around 1:30 pm, officers were called to an area in Northwest Tampa, close to the airport, after someone reported finding a body.
The deceased individual was later identified as Bennett, a spokesperson for the police department confirmed to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
There were "no initial signs to suggest that foul play was a factor" in her death, the spokesperson said.
An investigation is ongoing and the cause and manner of her death has not yet been revealed by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office.
'DEVASTATED'
However, a family member has urged fans to refrain from speculating about her death after rumors swirled on social media that she had died in Philadelphia.
"All these allegations and comments are not true," the family member told the Inquirer on the condition of anonymity.
"We don't even know exactly what happened so if everybody could just please bear with everybody on this subject, I'm begging you, please our family is devastated."
Bennett's record label Chosen One Records announced the news of her death on July 24 in an Instagram post.
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"We regret to inform you of the passing of outer lil sis @pettylevelofficial," the post read alongside a picture of the rapper.
"We ask for prayers and comfort at this time & respect of privacy for the family."
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Bennett rose to fame on social media while in high school as she shared short videos of herself dancing, traveling, and being an adrenaline junkie.
A few years later in 2018, she started filming short rap videos and her following swelled to the point where she released her own music.
Bennett was known for featuring on Fredo Bang's song Freak alongside fellow rapper Latto.
She also released her own songs including Ain't It and Malibu.
The musician had high hopes for the future despite her nerves about breaking out of Instagram and into the world of music.
"Just know that Petty Levels will not just be an Instagram name," Bennett said in an interview in 2019 with SayCheeseTV.
I'm begging you, please our family is devastated.
Bennett family member
"Sooner or later it will be on billboards, it will be on your playlists, it will be on the radio, it will be everywhere you go."
'HEARTBREAKING'
Tributes have been flooding in for the musician and influencer who has over 1 million followers on Instagram.
"This is heartbreaking. I’ve been following her so long," one fan wrote in the comments on Bennett's final Instagram post.
"Such a bubbly confident woman. Anyone around her or knew her would have been so lucky to know her.
"This is really not what I was expecting to see today. May you rest in peace beautiful."
Bennett's last Instagram post featured a series of photographs including one of her in a white dress and another of her smiling and drinking wine.
The caption simply featured the word "fleeting" in what fans have called an eerie message.
"This was too unexpected. Mia girl rest up," another wrote.
"We’ll miss you," a third added.
Meanwhile, fans were reminded by others to keep speculation about her death to themselves until the family has had time to grieve.
"She pettty levels to yall but that’s someone’s baby that they pushed out, fed, clothed and loved," one wrote in the comments.
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"Yall need to understand this is extremely hard for her family nobody owe us an explanation but if they give it it will be on there time not ours."
The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office will release further information when it is available.
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