The streets of New York, especially Uptown Manhattan and the Bronx, have always been a pressure cooker for drill music and the rivalries that fuel it. You’ve probably seen the name Notti Osman—or more accurately, Notti Osama—all over TikTok and YouTube. There is a lot of confusion because people often misspell the name or get the details of the incident mixed up with other drill rap tragedies. But the question of who killed Notti Osman isn't a cold case or a mystery. It’s a documented, tragic event that happened in broad daylight, caught on camera, and ended in a courtroom.
It happened in July 2022.
Ethan Reyes, known to the world as Notti Osama, was only 14 years old. That's the part that usually stops people in their tracks. A 14-year-old kid. He was part of the growing "Sugarhill" drill scene, a subgenre of rap that is as much about neighborhood beefs as it is about music. When we talk about who killed him, we aren't talking about a professional hitman or a shadowy figure. We’re talking about another teenager. Specifically, a 15-year-old rival.
The Afternoon at 137th Street City College Station
The details are messy. Real life usually is. On July 9, 2022, Notti was at the 137th Street-City College subway station in Hamilton Heights. It wasn't a planned hit. According to most reports and the evidence presented later, it was a chance encounter that turned lethal in seconds.
Notti and his friends saw a rival. This rival was Kelvin Martinez, a 15-year-old associated with a different neighborhood faction. If you’ve followed the NY drill scene, you know these lines are drawn deep.
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There was a confrontation.
It wasn't just words. Video surveillance from the MTA station showed a chaotic scene. Notti and his associates allegedly cornered Martinez. Notti was reportedly armed with a broomstick, and they had him backed against a wall. It was a fight. In the heat of that physical struggle, Martinez pulled out a knife. He swung. He hit Notti in the abdomen.
Notti managed to run up the stairs, trying to get away, but he collapsed on the platform. He was rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, but he didn't make it.
Why the charges were dropped
This is where the story gets controversial for many fans. Initially, Kelvin Martinez was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. People wanted justice. They wanted a conviction. However, the legal system works on the specifics of the moment, not the reputation of the people involved.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office eventually dropped the charges.
Why? Self-defense.
The video evidence was the "star witness" here. It showed that Notti and his crew had initiated the physical confrontation and had Martinez cornered. Under New York law, "justification" (the legal term for self-defense) is a high bar, but the prosecutors felt they couldn't prove it wasn't self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt.
"The defendant was being cornered and beaten," was essentially the logic. It’s a harsh reality that leaves no winners. A 14-year-old died, and a 15-year-old had to live with the fact that he killed someone while fighting for his own safety.
The Digital Aftermath and the "Notti Osama" Effect
If you’re looking for Notti Osman and finding Notti Osama, you aren't alone. The internet has a way of morphing names, especially when a story goes viral on platforms like TikTok. The "Notti Osama" name became a rallying cry for his fans and a point of mockery for his rivals.
This is the dark side of drill.
The music didn't stop when he died. In fact, his death became a "bar" in dozens of songs. Rivals used his name to taunt his brother, DD Osama, who has since become a major figure in the rap world. You’ve probably heard the songs. They are aggressive, they are raw, and they are incredibly sad when you remember the ages of the people involved.
Honestly, the culture around the "Who killed Notti Osman" question is almost as intense as the incident itself. Fans go down rabbit holes of gang maps and social media beefs. But the facts remain the same:
- Location: 137th St-City College Station.
- The Weapon: A knife used during a physical altercation.
- The Outcome: Charges dropped due to the "justification" of self-defense.
Understanding the Drill Music Context
You can't talk about this case without talking about the music. Drill isn't just rap; it’s a diary of the streets. Notti was part of the OY (Old Youngins) collective based in Sugar Hill. Their rivals were often from the Bronx or other parts of Harlem.
The tragedy is that these kids are often talented. Notti had a following. He had charisma. But the lyrics often predict the reality. When rappers "diss" the deceased, it keeps the cycle of violence spinning. When Notti died, the "diss tracks" didn't just target him; they targeted his grieving family. This is why the search for his killer remains so active—people aren't just looking for a name, they’re looking for the next chapter in a feud that seems never-ending.
The Role of Social Media in the Tragedy
TikTok played a massive, and some would say "disturbing," role in how Notti's death was perceived. A dance move—the "Notti Bop"—went viral. Think about that for a second. A dance move created to mock the way a 14-year-old died was being performed by kids across the country who didn't even know who he was.
It’s a weird, detached way to consume tragedy. It turned a real-life killing into a "trend."
What We Learn From This
The story of who killed Notti Osman is a snapshot of a much larger issue in urban centers. It's about the intersection of poverty, lack of resources, and a music industry that rewards "authenticity," even when that authenticity leads to the graveyard.
Experts in street mediation, like those from organizations such as Save Our Streets (S.O.S.), often point out that these incidents are almost always avoidable. A chance meeting at a subway station shouldn't end in a funeral. But when teens feel they have to carry weapons for protection, or when the "code of the streets" dictates that you can't back down, these are the results.
The legal system did its job based on the evidence, but the legal "win" for Martinez doesn't bring Notti back. It also doesn't end the beef. If anything, the dismissal of charges added fuel to the fire for those looking for "street justice."
How to Follow This Case Responsibly
If you are following the New York drill scene or researching the Notti Osama case, it is vital to separate the "lore" from the law.
- Check the Sources: Stick to local news outlets like The New York Post or ABC7NY which covered the court proceedings directly. Avoid "drill enthusiast" YouTube channels that often lean on rumors or unverified social media posts.
- Respect the Family: Behind the rap name was a kid named Ethan. His family, including his brother DD Osama, has had to navigate their grief in the public eye while being constantly reminded of the tragedy by internet trolls.
- Understand the Law: Researching "New York Penal Law Section 35.15" will give you a better understanding of why the DA dropped the charges. It explains the "duty to retreat" and when the use of physical force is considered justified.
- Support Peace Initiatives: Look into groups like Guns Down, Life Up that work specifically with New York youth to provide alternatives to the lifestyle that claimed Notti's life.
The reality of who killed Notti Osman is that a cycle of violence claimed another victim. While Kelvin Martinez was the one who held the knife, the environment that allowed two teenagers to reach that point is the bigger "killer" in the room. Stay informed, look past the viral dances, and remember that these are real lives, not just entertainment for a Friday night scroll.