Two men and two teenage boys allegedly broke into a house in Los Angeles to shoot the rapper.
Four people have been charged in connection with the death of rapper Pop Smoke.
Two men and two teens are accused of killing the up-and-coming Brooklyn artist during a robbery in February, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Corey Walker, 19, and Keandre Rodgers, 18, were charged with what authorities said was murder on the special circumstances charge that the murder occurred during the commission of a robbery and a robbery, leading to the made them eligible for the death penalty.
According to the complaint, the accused may have gang ties.
The other two defendants, aged 17 and 15, were charged with murder and robbery in a juvenile court.
On February 19, around 4 a.m., the four men allegedly broke into a house in the Hollywood Hills where Pop Smoke, 20, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was located, authorities said. At least one of them was wearing a black mask, sources told ABC News. The defendants then allegedly shot the artist, who was transported to a local hospital, where he died.
Police believe the defendants learned of Pop Smoke’s whereabouts after his social media posts showed the house he was renting, according to the Associated Press.
If Walker and Rodgers are convicted and do not receive the death penalty, they face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case is still under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
“We are devastated by the unexpected and tragic loss of Pop Smoke,” his record label, Republic Records, said in a statement after his death. “Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family, friends and fans as we mourn this loss together.”
Sources told ABC News that detectives believe the attack was gang related.
Pop Smoke’s death occurred the same week he landed his first place in the Top 10 on Billboard for his second mixtape, “Meet the Woo, V.2”. Their tour was expected to begin in March.
For months, friends, loved ones, and celebrities have publicly mourned his death.
“There is no success without jealousy, betrayal comes from those who are close. RiP,” 50 Cent posted on Twitter in February along with a photo of him and Pop Smoke smiling.
Nicki Minaj, who collaborated with the rapper on the official remix of the hit song “Welcome to the Party,” posted an Instagram photo of Pop Smoke along with the caption: “The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as Tomb”. “Rest in peace, Pop.”
“I knew he was an outstanding young man who was really committed to trying to do the right thing,” criminal defense attorney Peter Frankel told ABC News of Pop Smoke. “It had some potholes along the way, but we all have them.”
.
