April 3rd, 2022, the music industry was about to suffer a loss that would weigh on the emotions of hearts everywhere. The 37-year-old rap artist by the name of Archie Eversole.
built up a name for himself with the highly successful song “We Ready” which was released in 2002 under Geffen Records https://youtu.be/ElFDlShmOng?si=F7BjN6ZrRgZ186Wp (1:11-1:36).
The song became the Anthem for Atlanta United soccer club along with NFL teams and fans in the city and beyond.
Voices could be heard chanting at games and avenues the catchy energetic lyrics to the song like it was a part of every culture’s native tongue. https://youtu.be/ZaZ4GHJJzqY?si=YAjgkTSulc3M7wv- (0:16-0:38) https://youtu.be/sE2jj16W-IU?si=2M9tOaD5sNR6eHuj (0:02-0:07).
The song was a single on his debut album titled “Ride With Me Dirty South Style.”
At just 17 years old, Eversole was already carving his name as an artist with the potential to leave an impactful legacy in the music industry.
His popularity brought him even more opportunities, being enlisted by the Atlanta United soccer club to create a new anthem specifically for them titled “United We Conquer.” https://youtu.be/g4hkTocJtsE?si=i1ZCjCc1k7-VLI5m (0:15-0:36) https://youtu.be/g4hkTocJtsE?si=i1ZCjCc1k7-VLI5m (2:38-3:07).
He showed great promise and no matter the ups and downs in the music industry, his name always brought a certain energy when it came to his ability to bring crowds together. Sadly, he wouldn’t be able to live a full life doing what he loved, because tragedy struck from the most unlikely of places.
On March 25th, 2002, Archie Eversole was asleep in his townhouse home on the 4500 block of Golf Vista Circle when he was awoken by a loud sound in his room. Eversole was shot. Bleeding from his face, he stumbled and managed to make it out to the street where he walked to a nearby Chevron gas station on the 4400 block of Snapfinger Woods Drive at around 7:30 am.
Bleeding profusely from his wound, the police were alerted by staff at the gas station. They arrived to find Eversole with a bullet wound to his jaw and requested EMS to come to the scene.
In speaking with Eversole, who was losing a hefty amount of blood at this time, he was able to tell them what had happened to an extent. Court details state that Eversole told police officers he was asleep when someone shot him in his jaw. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=a27toUT-50w7gZqw (0:31-1:12).
He didn’t state who the shooter was, or if he even knew, but he did let officers know that the shooter was still there at the building. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=a27toUT-50w7gZqw (1:26-1:53) https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=a27toUT-50w7gZqw (6:41-7:02).
The clock was ticking both to apprehend the suspect and to save Eversole’s life. Going in and out of consciousness, he was rushed to the hospital. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=a27toUT-50w7gZqw (1:13-1:20) https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=VRPf0Yrq3qVprkaf (7:04-7:12).
While his life was trying to be saved, officers went to the location of the house to investigate and search for the possible suspect. There, they would locate the sole occupant that was at the building – Archie Eversole’s brother 41-year-old Alexander Krause.
His brother also lived with Eversole, so now it was up to authorities to determine if he was the suspect they were looking for, or if the suspect had already fled. Investigating the surroundings, it was noticed that there were no signs of forced entry at the entrance, however, there was a trail of blood from the gas station right back to the residence. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=WEwSQVJ5APUGEnZ2 (7:16-7:34) Analyzing Krause, it was noticed that blood was on his socks and shoes, but observing his movements closer, it was noted he was walking with a limp. When questioned about it, Krause blamed it on blisters present on his feet. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=WEwSQVJ5APUGEnZ2 (7:35-7:46).
Officers began searching the room and discovered more blood leading down Eversole’s room. Here, they found something different than at the entrance. His room door was tampered with, and the surroundings showed signs of a struggle. Blood was splattered in numerous places which they saw as evidence corroborating their theory. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=_H7eV7HJK8D5Citq (8:05-8:31).
Authorities started becoming suspicious of Krause when a firearm was found at the base of Eversole’s bed with one spent shell. In searching his brother’s room, however, live rounds that matched the bullets of the gun were found. Not only that, but analyzing both rooms, in contrast, his room was neat and undamaged as compared to Eversole’s.
https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=_H7eV7HJK8D5Citq (8:33-9:10).
Alexander Krause was arrested and brought to the station, but that was in relation to a felony marijuana charge after they found the substance in his room. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=WEwSQVJ5APUGEnZ2 (7:46-8:02) https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=_H7eV7HJK8D5Citq (9:10-9:20).
He was the only suspect at the time on the police’s radar as no one else was found at the scene. Archie Eversole, still in critical condition was having the fight of his life. The blood loss from the wound deteriorated his body and vitals to the point where recovery was too far gone, and he passed away about a week later on April 3rd.
The news would take a shocking turn when the public learned a couple of days later that the person charged with his murder was his own brother.
Mourning poured online for the senseless attack that stole a talented individual.
From sports greats to the Atlanta United club that held him highly, condolences and heartfelt sentiments were ushered due to his passing. https://youtu.be/yspmxaArfIw?si=Jf7tStES8KPLT9Aq (0:29-0:46).
The death of Eversole increased the severity of Krause’s arrest. Previously placed on a $5000 bond for the marijuana charge, his bond was now revoked by the judge, as he was labeled a danger to the community with the additional murder charge placed on his record. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=FGmoKiutKl_cfJlV (6:10-6:19) https://youtu.be/62V4HI4TEyc?si=e1tqyO09MBf7nfbl (0:01-0:15) https://youtu.be/62V4HI4TEyc?si=e1tqyO09MBf7nfbl (0:25-0:32).
His attorney argued for the case to be dismissed as his client was being wrongly accused. The angle used in his reasoning was that his brother, Archie Eversole never listed him as the person who shot him. If he was the one responsible, then the question posed was, “Wouldn’t he have said so instead of just stating that the shooter was still there?” https://youtu.be/r-U_MuofgCc?si=4qDdsEMaiw0Zb_0M (0:38-1:11).
Prosecutors would counter his argument by stating that no one else was within the house. Not only that, but the evidence inclusive of the live ammunition in his room that matched the murder weapon, all pointed to Alexander Krause being their suspect. https://youtu.be/r-U_MuofgCc?si=4qDdsEMaiw0Zb_0M (1:24-1:40) https://youtu.be/r-U_MuofgCc?si=4qDdsEMaiw0Zb_0M (1:54-2:17).
At a court hearing, there turned out to be conflicting information on the criminal past of Krause. Apparently, prosecutors were saying that he had criminal cases under an alias which extended his rap sheet to a lengthy resume. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=ncHKlRJA0USxdZ5x (9:34-10:16) https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=ncHKlRJA0USxdZ5x (10:37-11:43) His attorney instead stated that the other name was his sister’s, and those charges didn’t belong to Krause. https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=ncHKlRJA0USxdZ5x (12:48-15:09).
It was a steady back and forth. With the only other person who knows the truth now deceased, prosecutors had to cross their I’s and dot their T’s to defend their case. This, however, became more difficult when the mother of the brothers spoke out publicly condemning the actions of authorities as she stated that her son was innocent. https://youtu.be/sE2jj16W-IU?si=Bb83YptJXVMBfvrd (0:57-1:32) Not only did she speak out against the arrest, but Eversole’s manager also saw things from her perspective. From his description both told to reporters and in court, he paints a picture of brotherly love between Eversole and Krause, calling Krause very protective and supportive of his brother. https://youtu.be/sE2jj16W-IU?si=-v98cZBGpLB45aMr (1:33-1:45) https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=Dt4EUAnhi8ei5XQ1 (17:24-18:01) https://youtu.be/upqht1RIdJc?si=Dt4EUAnhi8ei5XQ1 (19:00-20:00).
Speculation would begin spreading online that things might not have been as happy and peaceful between the brothers as the manager led on. An online post made by Eversole a month before his death, saw him calling someone out through harsh words. Automatically, many thought this was directed at his brother, Krause, but that’s an opinion that couldn’t be proved.
Reports later stated that Alexander Krause was granted bail in August 2022, but that would change in April 2023 when a jury indicted him on 4 charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection to Eversole’s death.
https://www.xxlmag.com/archie-eversole-brother-indicted-murder
His fate now rests in the hands of the law, which will either confirm or absolve his involvement in the murder of his brother. Either direction the outcome takes, a brother, son, and beloved artist was lost. His life was cut short far too soon. To this day his legacy lives on through his music, and will continue to be an anthem to those who cherished his character and talent. Rest in peace, Archie Eversole. https://youtu.be/wfk6CplO_MU?si=59BhArxJ2Z5V97CR (0:53-1:02).
Chad is a professional journalist specializing in Hip-Hop culture and writing music reviews.
