Donkey Cartel Killed In Shooting at Northlake Mall in North Carolina [VIDEO]

Up-and-coming rapper Donkey Cartel was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer after his involvement in a shooting at the Northlake Mall in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday (Dec. 24).

Cartel, whose real name is Daquan Antonio Westbrook, 18, had an altercation with another person inside a Journeys retail store and started shooting. Police officer Thomas Ferguson, who was working off-duty at the mall, heard the shots and confronted Westbrook who pointed the gun at him. Ferguson fired his weapon and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to WBTV, witnesses say that Westbrook was shooting in retaliation to another shooting that happened last Thanksgiving involving the deceased suspect's brother. That brother, whose nickname is "Wop," is recuperating in the hospital.

"Five guys started fighting, two of them ran out of the store when the third guy came out of the store he pulled out a gun," an eyewitness told WBTV. "Officer stepped up, said put your gun down, he turned around and opened fire."

At a press conference, CMPD Chief Putney told reporters that the people involved in Thursday’s shooting were “a group of subjects who have a history of feuding back and forth,” and that there was “evidence of multiple weapons there at the scene.”

According to reports, four people were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries. No officers were injured.

Westbrook had a lengthy criminal record that included 11 arrests. In 2013, he was arrested for shooting a 12-year-old boy. His most recent arrest was in October, which was related to drugs, larceny and resisting arrest.

Westbrook was also a rising rapper known as Donkey Cartel in the local North Carolina rap scene. He released two mixtapes, including one titled Convicted Felon With a Weapon. A glance on YouTube reveals that the rap upstart was prolific with shooting music videos. His last visual was for his introspective song, "Pac."

Watch the local news reports about this tragic incident below.

We want to send our heartfelt condolences to Daquan Westbrook's family and friends. May he rest in peace.