Brooklyn Rapper Troy Ave, Charged In Irving Plaza Shooting, Sues Venue

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A rapper facing multiple charges in a fatal shooting at a Manhattan nightclub is now suing the venue.

Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave, whose real name is Roland Collins, is charged with attempted murder and other counts in the May 25 incident at Irving Plaza.

But lawyers say the club was negligent.

"He is the victim here, he did not bring a gun into this place," attorney Scott Leemon said at a press conference outside the venue Monday.

Video shows Collins firing a gun, but the rapper said he took the weapon from a shooter and was defending himself.

The lawsuit alleges the club only checked people coming through the front door, not the VIP door where the shooting occurred.

"This place let someone into the facility with a gun without checking them," Leemon said. "The security here did not pat down anyone who came in the back door."

One of Collins' bodyguards, 33-year-old Ronald McPhatter, was killed in the shooting. Three other people, including Collins, were wounded.

"I've been going through a lot, I just want to get my life back," Collins said.