The man accused of pistol whipping Rick Ross’ son is out of jail, and the first person he thanked on camera was 50 Cent. In a clip the G-Unit boss posted himself, Don Roberts sits at home and gives 50 a direct shoutout for believing in him.
Jail records show Roberts, 20, was granted a $50,000 bond on Wednesday, Oct. 21. He had been arrested on Oct. 16 on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
50 shared the video with a caption saying he “had a strong feeling this brother was innocent,” then added “who snitching” with a side-eye emoji. It’s a typical 50 move, one that puts his long-running feud with Rozay front and center again.
In the clip, Roberts thanks his family and friends before turning his attention to the rapper. “I’m out and I’m innocent. The Lord knows I’m innocent,” he said. “50, I appreciate you for everything you doing for me and believing in my innocence. Much love.”
It hasn’t been confirmed that 50 actually put up the $50,000. The timing is hard to ignore, though, since the release came about a day after he publicly promised to get Roberts out.
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, 50 posted Roberts’ jail file and said he was sending his attorney, Drew Findling. “I got him he will be out tomorrow I’m sending @drewfindling,” he wrote. “This is a big misunderstanding that can easily be resolved.”
The police account paints a much darker picture than a misunderstanding. According to NBC 6, citing a police report, William Roberts III was talking with a woman near the Bethune Cookman University campus on Oct. 11 when Roberts got out of a car, approached him and allegedly drew a weapon.
Roberts was reportedly romantically involved with the woman in the past. I don’t care who your daddy is, I’ll kill you right here,” he allegedly told Ross‘ son before striking him with the gun.
Daytona police arrested Roberts five days later after he was picked out of a lineup of possible suspects. Per Complex, he pleaded not guilty and had a hearing on Wednesday, the same day the bond came through.
Jail records also show Roberts has been arrested before. In July 2024 he was booked on reckless driving, marijuana possession and evidence tampering charges.
For 50, the whole episode is also doubling as marketing. He has used the stunt to push his Street Fighter film, which hit theaters on Oct. 16, the same day Roberts was taken into custody.
Critics see it as a rapper turning a young man’s alleged assault into content to score points against a rival. Fans of 50’s trolling see the latest round in a rivalry where nothing has ever been off limits.
Ross has not publicly responded to the video yet. Billboard has reached out to attorneys for both Rick Ross and 50 Cent for comment, while the case against Roberts keeps moving through the courts.
