Editor's note: If you or a loved one is in crisis, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 ( 1-800-273-TALK) .
ROBERTS COUNTY, S.D. — A local musician who came under scrutiny after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct died by suicide in southwestern Roberts County, officials said.
“It was determined to be a suicide, and we don’t normally relay information other than it was a suicide,” Roberts County Sheriff Barry Hillestad said Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Kipp Gabriel, 37, known as Kipp G, was a rapper with the Me and You Crew, as well as a music promoter. He frequently performed at The Aquarium until around 2015.
Gabriel died on June 28. When The Forum previously reported his death, authorities had not determined how he died.
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Before Gabriel died, The Forum reached out to him about the allegations, and he denied any wrongdoing, adding that he had been advised not to comment.
“I have heard a little bit about it, but it is absolutely not true. It is absolutely not true,” Gabriel said at the time. “They (people posting comments) are girls that I have dated, and they have also called me and laughed into the phone .... It's like a game to them."
“It pains me because terrible things have been said,” Gabriel said at the time. “I do respect women speaking their truth and I'm not trying to silence women, but in this situation, there's more context to it than just a string of anonymous posts.”
Gabriel grew up in Bismarck and later moved to Fargo, according to his obituary.