Pop Smoke's killer pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to 4 years in juvenile facility
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: One of the men charged in connection with the killing of New York rapper Pop Smoke has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery. The defendant, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, has been sentenced to four years and two months in a juvenile treatment facility.
As he was a minor at the time of the crime, his name has been withheld throughout the trial. Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was just 20 years old when he was killed on February 19, 2020, at a rented home in the Hollywood Hills. The up-and-coming rapper was staying in the house for a four-day trip to Los Angeles when he was attacked by armed intruders.
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Pop Smoke had posted a photograph on social media of a gift bag he had received
A friend of one of the people in the house called 911 to report the invasion. According to authorities, the robbers knew the address of the house because Pop Smoke had posted a photograph of a gift bag he had received on social media which included a label with the address on it. The attackers reportedly stole the rapper's diamond-studded Rolex watch which they sold for $2,000.
During a struggle, one of the robbers, a 15-year-old, pistol-whipped Pop Smoke and shot him three times in the back, according to court testimony, reported by Los Angles Times. Pop Smoke's death was initially believed to be gang-related, but police later determined that it was a robbery that turned violent.
The defendant who has now pleaded guilty was one of four men charged in connection with Pop Smoke's death
The rapper had shared posts on social media in the days leading up to his death that showed off expensive gifts he had recently received, including the Rolex watch. The defendant who has now pleaded guilty was one of four men charged in connection with Pop Smoke's death. Corey Walker, who was 19 at the time, and Keandre Rodgers, who was 18, were also charged with murder during the commission of a robbery and burglary. The names of the other two defendants, who were minors at the time of the crime, have not been made public.
'Shoot for the stars, aim for the moon' released posthumously topped the Billboard 200 chart in 2020
Pop Smoke was a rising star on the rap scene at the time of his death. He had several popular singles, including 'Welcome to the Party,' which became a huge sensation and prompted Nicki Minaj to drop a verse on a remix. He also released two mixtapes, 'Meet the Woo' and 'Meet the Woo 2,' both of which were critically acclaimed. The latter debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 album chart just two weeks before Pop Smoke was killed.
Following his death, Pop Smoke's debut album, 'Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon,' was released posthumously in July 2020 and topped the Billboard 200 chart. The album included guest appearances from several high-profile artists, including Quavo, Future, and DaBaby. Pop Smoke's second posthumous album, 'Faith,' was released in July 2021 and also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.