On December 16, 2004, Robert Tito Montanez, 31, was shot and later died after a dispute in the parking lot of the Ringside Bar in Jersey City. Montanez, a music promoter and road manager for Akon who also ran Block Records, intervened when a man tried to snatch jewelry from rapper Capone. During the struggle Montanez was shot twice in the chest; another man, Shea Harvey, was wounded in the leg but survived.

Paramedics revived Montanez multiple times en route to Jersey City Medical Center and he underwent emergency surgery, but was pronounced dead shortly after 6 a.m. He left behind three children and was remembered for his loyalty and work in the hip-hop community.

Investigators had a suspect early on; in November 2010 witnesses identified Almalik Ward of Newark as the shooter and he was arrested and charged with murder, robbery, and weapons offenses.