Who is Boopac Shakur? Online vigilante tragically killed while confronting suspected predators in Michigan
LANSING, MICHIGAN: In a tragic turn of events, a 40-year-old man from Michigan, Robert Wayne Lee, who used the online moniker "Boopac Shakur," met his grim end after confronting two teenagers on the night of a Friday, September 29.
Lee was known for his online persona, where he claimed to expose individuals he believed were child predators to his substantial social media following.
Lee's strategy aimed at unmasking alleged predators
His modus operandi involved assuming the identity of a 15-year-old girl in online interactions, a strategy employed to lure and subsequently unveil suspected pedophiles, as reported by the Oakland County sheriff's office in an official statement.
Lee's activities were documented and broadcasted through videos posted on his social media accounts, boasting an audience of over 11,000 followers on Facebook and an impressive 45,000 followers on Instagram.
Confrontation at Pontiac restaurant turns deadly
These recordings often depicted Lee engaging in confrontations with individuals he suspected of being sexual predators, occasionally escalating to violent altercations.
The tragic incident unfolded when Lee confronted two teenagers, ages 17 and 18, at a restaurant located in Pontiac. Accusing one of them of being a pedophile, Lee resorted to physical violence by striking the accused individual, as per information provided in the police news release.
In response to the assault, the teenager who was punched brandished a knife, while the other, believed to be the 17-year-old, resorted to discharging a pistol multiple times, resulting in serious injuries to Lee.
He was swiftly transported to a hospital but, regrettably, succumbed to his injuries.
The suspects immediately fled the scene but were subsequently apprehended by law enforcement on the following Saturday afternoon, according to police reports.
Their identities have not been disclosed by the sheriff's office.
Lee's impact on arrests and misidentifications
Although Lee’s “one-man crusade has led to the arrest and criminal charges being filed against several men,” police said in the release, “he has also mistakenly identified someone as a sexual predator who was not.”
“While we certainly understand his desire to hold child predators accountable, many times well intentioned individuals who engaged in this don’t know the standard of evidence required for convictions and often underestimate the potential for violence confronting a suspected predator,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard expressed understanding for Lee's motivation to hold child predators accountable but emphasized a critical issue surrounding such endeavors.
Detectives are currently in the process of preparing the case for prosecution, with charges expected to be brought forth either on Sunday or Monday, according to police sources.
Notably, Lee's actions had previously led to legal consequences for a former police officer, a case confirmed by a spokesperson from a local police department.