C Gambino, a celebrated Swedish hip-hop star, was tragically killed in June 2024. A Gothenburg court convicted three men, giving them lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in the premeditated attack. As gang violence escalates in Sweden, the case reveals troubling patterns of youth involvement in crime and the challenges law enforcement faces.
Long Sentences for Men Involved in Murder of Swedish Hip-Hop Artist C Gambino

Long Sentences for Men Involved in Murder of Swedish Hip-Hop Artist C Gambino
Three men have received severe prison sentences for their roles in the murder of renowned Swedish rapper C Gambino, highlighting ongoing gang-related violence in the country.
Three men in their twenties have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their roles in the murders of Swedish hip-hop artist C Gambino, whose real name was Karar Ramadan. The shooting transpired in June 2024 at a multistorey car park in Gothenburg, shortly after C Gambino had won the title of hip-hop artist of the year at the country's Grammis music awards. Prosecutors characterized the shooting as a premeditated execution amid an ongoing gangland conflict in the region.
In the court's ruling, all three men were found guilty of aiding and abetting murder; however, the Gothenburg court did not convict two of them for the actual murder, citing insufficient evidence to definitively determine who fired the fatal shots. The elusive firearm used in the attack has not yet been recovered, and a vehicle involved in the incident was later discovered burnt beyond recognition.
C Gambino's murder has been associated with the alarming rise in gang violence across Sweden's largest cities, where many lives have been lost in similar circumstances. Despite the violent backdrop, authorities found no indications that the artist was part of any criminal organization. The rapper, at just 26 years old, was targeted during what the court deemed a meticulously planned operation.
In pursuit of justice, investigators struggled to collect physical evidence, as no DNA traces were linked to the suspects. Nonetheless, they tracked their movements through mobile phone data and scanned hours of CCTV footage, which depicted the assailants surveilling the car park days before executing the attack as C Gambino returned home from the gym. Although he managed to call for help, he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital roughly an hour later.
The court imposed a life sentence on a 22-year-old man, while two others aged 21 and 20 were sentenced to 15 and a half years and 12 and a half years in prison, respectively. Meanwhile, a fourth accomplice—a 19-year-old—faced charges for arson related to the vehicle used in the crime.
In a related case, a 14-year-old boy was found guilty of murder under the orders of a notorious gang in Sweden, illustrating the disturbing trend of young individuals getting caught up in criminal activities. Recent reports of arrests in Iraq connected to further gang investigations only underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Swedish authorities in combating organized crime.