murder trial

Pop Smoke Murder Suspect Pleads Guilty, Sentenced To 4 Years: Report

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The death of Pop Smoke left a hole in the rap game, especially at a time when New York was reclaiming its sound. The rapper was shot and killed in the Hollywood Hills during a botched home invasion. Though there have been a number of conspiracy theories surrounding his death, police eventually apprehended three individuals they believe broke into the mansion on Feb. 19th, 2020, and murdered the rapper.

According to Associated Press, one of the individuals connected to the Brooklyn rapper’s death has pleaded guilty. The 20-year-old, who was 17 at the time of the murder, copped to one count of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to another count of home invasion robbery. As part of the guilty plea, he received a sentence of four years and two months in a juvenile facility. Since he was a minor at the time of the shooting, the judge put a publication ban on his name.

One Man Pleads Guilty In Pop Smoke Murder Trial

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 31: Pop Smoke attends Lil Uzi Vert’s 25th Birthday at Moxy Hotel on July 31, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Throughout the investigation, detectives and prosecutors said that the three individuals located Pop Smoke’s mansion after he posted a picture of a gift bag with the address a day prior. The three individuals broke into the mansion where they found Pop Smoke in the shower. A struggle between Pop and one of the individuals broke out, leading to one of the attackers, who was 15 at the time, shooting the rapper in the back three times. The men left with diamond-encrusted Rolex and $2000 in cash.

Since Pop Smoke’s passing, his estate and friends have kept his name alive. A few months after his passing, 50 Cent, and Steven Victory released Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon, which boasted a star-studded tracklist including Quavo, Lil Baby, Future, Roddy Ricch, Fivio Foreign, Karol G, and more. A year later, they released Faith, which also included a number of heavy-hitter features. However, there hasn’t been anything in recent times indicating that another posthumous album is in the pipeline. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates on the murder trial surrounding Pop Smoke’s death. 

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XXXTentacion Verdict: 3 Suspects Found Guilty Of First-Degree Murder

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Following years of litigation, justice is served in XXXTentacion’s murder case. The rapper was at a motorbike shop in Florida in the summer of 2018 when he was accosted. XXXTentacion, real name Jahseh Onfroy, was in his vehicle leaving the establishment’s parking lot when an SUV blocked his entrance. The thieves reportedly intended to only rob people around town, and when they spotted the rapper, they thought they scored big. However, the botched robbery turned deadly within seconds, and at 20 years old, Onfroy was dead.

The trial has been a strange process where rappers found their names entangled in controversy. However, it’s come to an end, for now, after three of the four suspects were found guilty of the crime. Dedrick Williams, 26, Trayvon Newsome, 24, and Michael Boatwright, 28, will soon be sentenced for first-degree murder. A fourth suspect, Robert Allen, turned State’s witness and testified against his co-conspirators. The three found guilty today (March 20) face life sentences. Prosecutors decided against seeking the death penalty.

XXXTentacion’s Rap Beefs Brought Up In Court

Hip Hop fans know that “beefs” within the genre make for huge moments for artists, but they don’t often become focal points in murder cases. Although Robert Allen clearly stated on the stand that he and his former friends pulled off the deadly scheme, defense attorneys attempted to paint him as an unreliable witness. Additionally, XXXTentacion’s tension with his Rap peers also stole attention, including his rift with Drake. The OVO mogul’s name was repeatedly mentioned during the weeks-long trial, and the defense even tried to depose him. Drake was able to dodge involvement and allegations of setting up a hit on the late rapper. 600 Breezy’s name was also mentioned, but he was not asked to appear at the trial. Allen was questioned if he and the other suspects had any affiliation with Drake, and he denied knowing the hitmaker.

From the trial’s onset, prosecutors seemingly believed a guilty verdict was the expected outcome. Following the crime, the suspects reportedly made off with $50,000 in cash—which they split unevenly with Allen, who testified he didn’t exit the SUV when the murder was committed. Further, photos were introduced during the trial that showed the suspects flashing the cash and celebrating after XXXTentacion was killed. Surveillance video and cell phone data also placed the suspects at the crime scene. A sentencing hearing date has not yet been shared, but we will keep you updated as more information is released. Watch a portion of Robert Allen’s testimony above.

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Troy Ave Testifies In Taxstone’s Murder Trial

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Several news reports have confirmed that Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave testified in incarcerated podcaster Taxstone’s murder trial, giving his testimony of what happened between the two Hip Hop personalities on that fateful night in 2016 following the shooting death of Troy Ave’s bodyguard.

Troy Ave, real name Roland Collins, told jurors on Monday that he would rather “die fighting” as his justification for fighting Taxstone, whose real name is  Daryl Campbell,According to this after being shot backstage at Irving Plaza.

“If it’s fight or flight I’m always going to fight because at that point you could die,” Collins said. “It looks like if you see people wrestle in high school wrestling — that type of position.” 

“When the shot goes off I see the light from the spark and I hear the shot,” he testified. “This is all happening fast. I get up and start fighting Taxstone, trying to take him, grab the gun, and another shot goes off. I put my leg up to kind of block the shot from hitting me in the face or chest.”

According to his testimony, Campbell then shot him in the legs. “I got up,” Collins said. “I’d rather die fighting. People die from leg shots. I’d rather die fighting than laying on the ground. I got up immediately.” As he described the chaotic scene, Collins said he saw his friend and bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter was laying on the floor face down. “I rolled his body over and I’m like, ‘Banga, get up. Come on.’ I’m smacking him, like, ‘C’mon bro. Get up,’” Collins testified. “And his eyes were rolling to the back of his head. His shirt was red so I could tell he got shot.”

Taxstone is currently on trial on murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons possession charges. He faces at least 20 years behind bars if convicted of these charges. TheSource.com will update this story as details develop.

The post Troy Ave Testifies In Taxstone’s Murder Trial appeared first on The Source.

XXXTENTACION Murder Trial: Suspects Dance After X’s Death In Courtroom Video

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The XXXTENTACION murder trial is underway, and it certainly hasn’t gone without a few hiccups. The defense and prosecution have laid their arguments that have undoubtedly revealed new information surrounding the rapper’s death. Witnesses took to the stand, like XXXTENTACION’s uncle, the fan who took a photo of X after he was shot, and the ex-girlfriend of defendant Dedrick Williams. Then, there was the whole circus surrounding Drake and 600Breezy that the judge was ultimately fed up with. That aspect of the case undoubtedly caught everyone’s attention. 

The prosecutors and defense will soon share their closing arguments in the case before a jury decides the fate of the three individuals on trial. Though it seems like they will be convicted for XXXTENTACION’s death, the defense continues to put up a fight against the prosecutor’s argument. Still, between the state’s star witness, Robert Allen who copped a plea deal in the case, and recently referring to the alleged culprits as “predators,” the prosecutors have shown confidence in their case. By the end of the week, the jury will be in deliberation to decide the outcome of the trial as fans hope for justice for the late rapper. 

“Happy” Defendants Allegedly Danced After XXXTENTACION’s Murder

MIAMI BEACH, FL – OCTOBER 06: Rapper XXXTentacion attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2017 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater on October 6, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET )

Broward County Assistant State Attorney Pascale Achille shared some damning evidence on Tuesday. Achille shared a video that showed the defendants, Michael Boatwright, Trayvon Newsome, and Dedrick Williams, “happy” following the shooting death of X. Achille said they took the video within a day of robbing X of $50K in cash outside of Riva Motorsports shop in Broward County.

“This is who they are. This is their real character. Killers that within 24 hours after shooting the victim dead and stealing $50,000 from him, this is what they do,” Achille said to the jury as the video played. “Look at how happy they look. Look at how excited they look.” The incriminating evidence will undoubtedly play a role in the jury’s decision. If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in prison. We will continue to keep you up to date on any more information regarding the case. 

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Kay Flock Hit With RICO Charges Amid Murder Case

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As much as Kay Flock has ascended from the New York drill underground in the last year or so, he has also been bogged down by the justice system. While still awaiting trial for a murder case, Flock has now been indicted for racketeering charges, according to TMZ. On Thursday (Feb. 23), the 19-year-old was indicted by a federal grand jury for helping run the Sev Side/D.O.A. gang, TMZ says. Ironically, this come just a few months after Kay Flock put out his December album The D.O.A. Tape (Care Package). The LP includes features from frequent collaborator Dougie B, as well as G Herbo, Fivio Foreign, Gucci Mane, and more. Additionally, the tape features his single “Shake It” with Cardi B, Dougie B, and Bory300. “Shake It” played a huge part in uplifting the NY drill scene in 2021, and peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100.

However, in Dec. 2021, eight months after the release of “Shake It,” Kay Flock ran into trouble. On Dec. 23, he was arrested for his involvement in the Dec. 16 death of 24-year-old Oscar Hernandez. According to police, the incident started at a barber shop. Flock and Hernandez had issues prior, and the argument escalated to a shooting, police said. Subsequently, Flock enlisted the help of Jeffrey Lichtman, the former lawyer of Mexican cartel leader El Chapo. Flock is currently in jail awaiting trial for this murder charge, so another RICO case added on top of that must be hard to stomach.

Kay Flock’s Situation

The aforementioned racketeering charge Kay Flock was just it with allegedly carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life or death penalty, according to Akademiks. According to TMZ, Flock and five other members of Sev Side/D.O.A will all have to face trial for the RICO indictment. The federal grand jury stated that Sev Side/D.O.A’s “primary purpose was to commit robberies, acts of violence and financial fraud in their Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx,” TMZ says. So, it appears that Kay Flock may need to lawyer up a bit more.

The most recent development in the Kay Flock murder case, however, came from his lawyer in July. Lichtman stated at the time that Flock acted in self-defense, and that their claim can be backed up with video evidence. Lichtman also vowed to stay in Flock’s corner and continue to fight for his innocence. That may be tougher now, though, considering the murder charge is now coupled with this new RICO case. Stay tuned in to HNHH for more updates regarding Kay Flock as they come in.

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Taxstone Trial Begins, Troy Ave To Testify

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After countless delays, Taxstone’s murder trial is finally underway. Daryl Campbell, known professionally as Taxstone, was caught in a shootout during a T.I. concert in New York City. Shots were fired at the venue, Irving Plaza, after the former rapper drew beef with Roland “Troy Ave” Collins. As a result, Troy Ave’s bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter was killed. While Taxstone has already pleaded guilty to gun possession, sentencing will be decided after the murder trial, according to HipHopDX.

Six years after his initial arrest, Taxstone takes to the courts again. The state has two cooperating witnesses with close ties to the case: Troy Ave and Malcolm Kinyon. The former is also charged with his connection to the murder and weapon possession, however, he signed a cooperation agreement with the Manhattan District’s Attorney Office. Kinyon, on the other hand, had no direct correlation to the murder scene. But Taxstone allegedly had confided to Kinyon after the incident. Kinyon is also under fire with the law with hefty drug and firearm trafficking charges.

Taxstone Trial Finally Underway

Last month, Troy Ave sat down with My Expert Opinion podcast host Math Hoffa to reflect on the ordeal. Despite his charges, Troy remains his story of acting in self-defense. CCTV footage reveals Troy firing a firearm, but according to Troy, that’s not the full story. He explained to Hoffa, “I mean you see a lot of n*ggas running, ducking for cover, and you know n*ggas that’s supposed to be standing around n*ggas they folded, I stood tall. It’s like you come in here you bought to do work, and before you walk in the door there’s a hater there blocking your way, and the hater killed your friend and tried to kill you, and everything is self-defense.”

Troy Ave continues to defend himself by revealing how his fight-or-flight spirit kicked in when he was threatened by a gun. He describes, “I’m not running… bullets in me. I’m gonna take the gun, I’m gonna beat you n*gga and I’m gonna blow at you, but what the media shows is me shooting.” Troy also recalls the moments when his bodyguard went down, “I really picked up my man body, n*gga. Like, I picked him up. All these n*ggas that was there… Maino was there, any n*gga there, they didn’t help me pick up Banga’s body, they walked past.” For the latest details on the Taxstone murder trial, be sure to check out HNHH!

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XXXTENTACION Trial: Defense Lawyer’s Motion To Introduce Rapper’s Alleged Cheating Rejected By Judge

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XXXTENTACTION’s family is finally inching closer to justice. Still, not before the defense lawyers in court this month make every attempt to clear their client’s name. As you may recall, the 20-year-old tragically lost his life during a 2018 shooting. At this time, Dedrick Williams, Michael Boatwright, and Trayvon Newsome are awaiting their fates. The fourth accomplice, Robert Allen previously plead guilty to second-degree murder and is now acting as the state’s witness.

Thanks to YouTube’s Law & Crime channel, fans of the Broward County-born artist have been tuning in to the trial. Recent sessions have seen some eyebrow-raising updates, including confirmation that Drake will be required to sit down for a deposition. Additionally, photos taken by the suspected murderers in the hours after XXX’s death are circulating online.

Fans leave items at a makeshift memorial outside the XXXTentacion Funeral & Fan Memorial at BB&T Center on June 27, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images)

According to Allen’s testimony, the money the men are holding in the images was taken out of the bank earlier that day. The rapper initially hoped to withdraw $250K, but the teller told XXXTENTACION that she’d have to place an order for $200K and he could take the rest. He was ambushed in his luxury car later that day. Surprisingly, his uncle somehow managed to evade the shooters and escape.

It seems as though the defense lawyers are grasping at any possible way to turn things in their favour. In a video of the courthouse stream reposted by Akademiks, a lawyer makes his case to the judge. “Part of what I’m going to be getting into is infidelity, how infidelity prompted him to use other phones,” the attorney says.

“And doing things to avoid the fact that he was being unfaithful. I believe that one of the women he was being unfaithful with was Trecedes, and the fact that he tattooed her name on his forehead is such a rare act. I think it’s indicative of how he feels about her and how scared he would be…” the defense lawyer went on.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the judge responds, “That’ll be denied,” resulting in both attorneys walking away to re-evaluate. In Akademiks’ Instagram comments, plenty of followers are ridiculing the legal antics unfolding before them. “Literally has no correlation with the case,” one person pointed.

“These lawyers really be trying anything,” and “How are these lawyers? Bruh,” others wrote, making fun of the attorney’s desperate plea. Read more about what’s been taking place during XXXTENTACION’s murder trial here, and check back later for more updates.

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XXXTENTACION’s Accused Killers Took Photos With Cash Robbed From Late Rapper: Report

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As we wait for more updates regarding Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial, another celebrity case has taken over the spotlight. Nearly five years after the tragic death of XXXTENTACION, the rapper’s murder suspects ate facing their day in court. Thus far, the details the jury has heard – including a video of the gruesome moment he was shot – are harrowing. At this time, more information only continues to come.

In this handout provided by the Miami Dade County Corrections, Rapper XXXTentacion, also known as Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy poses for his mugshot after being charged with seven new felonies stemming from a 2016 domestic violence case on December 15, 2017 in Miami, Florida. The new charges are for witness tampering and harassment. (Photo by Miami Dade County Corrections via Getty Images)

In a 2018 report, TMZ revealed that three of the four suspects knew each other beforehand. They also weren’t shy about flexing their money on social media. Weeks before X’s death, Dedrick Williams posted a video that sees him, Robert Allen, and Trayvon Newsome sifting through bills. Interestingly, Michael Boatwright wasn’t a part of these posts. However, he seemingly took a moment to pose with the money taken from the 20-year-old during the South Florida robbery.

Law&Crime Executive Producer Cathy Russon has been tweeting from the courtroom in the midst of this week’s trial. On Thursday (February 9), she had several updates to provide. Among them was Newsome yelling at Allen (who’s now acting as the state’s witness) while walking to the holding area. “There he is working with the police!” the former exclaimed. “You’re working with the white man now!”

Elsewhere in her coverage, the Twitter reporter revealed the aforementioned image of Boatright allegedly posing with money that was taken from XXXTENTACION just hours before. “Defendant turned state’s witness testifies this is X’s cash and photo taken after the homicide,” she explained in the caption. Another photo in the same thread sees Newsome smiling big while holding a stack of $100 bills in his hand.

“Pictures taken a couple days after #XXXTentacion murder. Shows defendant #MichaelBoatwright and #RobertAllen flashing a lot of cash,” Russon points out in another post. She also notes that the latter seen in the final photo has testified that the money belonged to the “Jocelyn Flores” artist. At the end of the thread, the journalist shares a picture of the gun Williams had on him during the assassination. This was also confirmed as per Allen.

Earlier this week, jurors also heard the Broward County native’s uncle recount the day of his death. As you may recall, X had his family member in the vehicle with him at the time of the tragic incident. Surprisingly, he even managed to make it out of his nephew’s luxury vehicle alive. Read everything Leonard Kerr had to say on the stand here, and check back later for more hip-hop news updates. RIP.

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Drake Ordered To Sit Down For Deposition In XXXTENTACION Murder Case

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For months, a lawyer of one of the co-defendants accused of murdering XXXTENTACION has attempted to rope Drake into the case. It began a few months ago when the prosecutors and defense attorneys submitted a potential witness list. The defense attorney for Dedrick Williams, Mauricio Padilla, listed a number of celebrities with known relationships and feuds with XXXTENTACION, including Quavo, Offset, Joe Budden, and Drake. Still, Broward County Judge Michael Usan didn’t initially think Drake’s presence was necessary in this case.

The prosecutors never suggested Drake had involvement in X’s death, though Padilla’s frequently pushed the theory that the Her Loss rapper was never investigated for the crime. “Before X died, he said, ‘If anybody kills me, it’s Drake.’ Do you think sitting here years later, any detective has ever asked Drake or anybody like that? No,” Padilla said during opening statements, per Complex. “This is one of the biggest celebrities in the world. Excluding an order from this court, we all know that I will never be able to take his deposition.” 

Judge Grants Motion To Depose Drake

Per Rolling Stone, a judge granted Padilla’s petition for an “order to show cause.” This means Drake will now have to sit down for a deposition, scheduled for Feb. 24th, which will take place through Zoom, per Billboard. “If deponent Aubrey Drake Graham does not appear to deposition he must appear before this court on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at 10 a.m. EST at so [sic] the court can determine why he should not be held in contempt,” the motion reads.

Padilla cited the post from X where he alleged that Drake was trying to kill him. However, X later recanted his statement, claiming he was hacked. Still, Padilla referenced how their beef escalated throughout X’s career, including commentary from Akademiks, who reportedly warned X that “although he did not believe that Graham was a violent person, Onfroy could be pushing him to retaliate.” Furthermore, the filing includes quotes from X’s mom, who said she asked the rapper’s relatives to accompany him to purchase a motorcycle due to his “ongoing battle with Drake and Migos.” 

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XXXTENTACION Murder Trial To Begin This Week

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Trial for the murder of XXXTENTACION is set to begin later this week, five years after the 2018 armed robbery that took his life. Furthermore, jury selection for the trial hasn’t finished, but NBC6 reported that trial will begin this week. Moreover, codefendants Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Devonshay Williams and Trayvon Newsome will stand trial.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 15: A view of a tribute to slain rapper XXXtentacion during day 2 of Rolling Loud Festival at Banc of California Stadium on December 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

However, a fourth codefendant Robert Allen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges in August of 2022. While he still faces a sentence, he’s expected to testify against the three colleagues to lighten it.

“[Allen] pleaded guilty to a lesser included offense of second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm,” said his attorney Jim Lewis. “He still faces a life sentence. Obviously, we are hoping for better than that. But his sentence is deferred and it is likely he will be called as a witness in the case against the other three co-defendants.”

Moreover, he said that “Mr. Allen’s role was much less than the other three involved. It was always kind of contemplated that the State was looking to use him as a witness in the case.”

Still, if convicted, all three codefendants face life behind bars. However, authorities believe that Boatwright fatally shot the “Moonlight” rapper in the Florida armed robbery. Afterwards, they escaped with $50,000 in a Louis Vuitton bag, which belonged to X.

Soon after the incident, officials arrested all four men and charged them with first-degree murder and armed robbery. When trial began taking shape, authorities named Drake, 6ix9ine, Joe Budden, and Quavo as potential witnesses in the Broward County trial.

Meanwhile, many fans believe that the 6 God is more involved than one might expect. For example, they had a brief clash after X accused Drake of biting his hi “Look At Me!” on his track “KMT.” Later, X wrote ” “If anyone tries to kill me it was [Drake]” on his story before claiming someone hacked him. While no evidence presented links Drake to the crime, lawyers believe him and other hip-hop figures could help this case.

Still, even the Canadian artist’s own music led fans to believe he had something to do with X’s death. Moreover, the song “Mob Ties” caught the eyes of many for apparent allusions to the incident. “Louis bags in exchange for body bags,” he raps on the song.

However, what do you think of XXXTENTACION’s murder trial set to begin later this week? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest updates on this story.

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