Pop Smoke was an up and coming rapper from Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 20, he was killed. At the time, it was reported that he was shot during a home invasion at his residence in Hollywood Hills. Pop Smoke was declared dead on February 19th, 2020 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office then determined that Pop Smoke died from a gunshot wound to the torso. The suspects involved in the shooting remained at large for months. Then, in July 2020, five people were taken into custody.
Pop Smoke was recognized as a leading figure of the Brooklyn drill scene, hailing from the Canarsie neighborhood in Brooklyn. He gained widespread attention in 2019 after releasing his hit single “Welcome to the Party” and subsequently released two mixtapes, Meet the Woo and Meet the Woo Vol. 2. His song even received remixes from Nicki Minaj and Skepta. Additionally, he collaborated with Travis Scott on “GATTI” for the JACKBOYS label compilation released in 2019. He had a bright future ahead of him before it was snuffed out.
Pop Smoke performs at the Soulfrito Music Festival at Barclays Center. (Photo by Arik Mazur/Getty Images)
According to the Los Angeles Times, there has finally been a confession in the case of Pop Smoke’s murder. A teenager has admitted to killing the artist. The culprit was 15 years old at the time of a home invasion robbery that resulted in the death of the rapper in February 2020. The teen also confessed to other charges related to the robbery. The defendant’s identity has not been disclosed due to being a minor at the time of the crime, and he was charged in juvenile court. He could remain in custody until he turns 25.
Earlier this year, the same case saw a 20-year-old defendant plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. At the time of the shooting, the defendant was 17 years old and faced charges as a juvenile. Law enforcement officials arrested five individuals in July 2020 for breaking into the Airbnb where Pop Smoke was temporarily staying. Two of the individuals, Keandre Rodgers and Corey Walker, are still facing murder charges in the case, and could potentially receive the death penalty if convicted. Another individual was arrested in connection with the robbery, but was not charged.
Five people, including an eight-year-old boy, have reportedly been killed at a house in Cleveland, Texas. According to early police reports, the five victims, who are believed to be related, were shot “execution-style” inside their home. Additionally, the suspect, who is currently at-large, is believed to live in a neighboring house.
Police were called to the residence, about 55 miles north of Houston, at 11:31pm on April 28. The call was initially in response to a harassment complaint about an individual discharging a firearm on a neighboring property. The caller, who is believed to be one of the victims, had reportedly asked the individual to stop, as there was a baby asleep in the house. The suspect had reportedly said he could do what he wanted in his own yard. Additionally, a video doorbell camera later caught the suspect entering the house with a rifle.
However, police found a horrific scene when they arrived at the property. Inside the house, they found five victims who had been shot above the neck in what police are calling “execution style”. The youngest victim was just eight years old. Beneath the bodies of two deceased women located in an upstairs bedroom, police found three minors who had survived the killing. Furthermore, The victims were members of a 10-person household of Honduran heritage. All victims were killed using a .223 AR-15-style weapon. Additionally, more weapons were found inside the victim’s house.
Police believe that the suspect, who was reported to be intoxicated at the time of the 911 call, entered the house soon after being confronted about the discharging of his firearm. The suspect, who has not been named, has been described as a Hispanic male and a Mexican national. Additionally, other neighbors have reported that firearm discharge was a common part of life in the town. Police have warned that the suspect is armed and may no longer be in the Cleveland area. Furthermore, he is approximately 5-foot-8 and last seen wearing blue jeans with a black shirt and work boots and is described as having short black hair. You can contact the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office at (936) 653-4367.
Los Angeles-based rapper MoneySign Suede has been killed. The rapper, whose real name was Jaime Brugada Valdez, was only 22 years old. He was serving a prison sentence for gun charges. According to reports, Suede was stabbed to death while taking a shower. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) released a statement about the incident. In it, they said that Suede was found unresponsive with injuries indicating a homicide. His attorney, Nicholas Rosenberg, who was notified on Tuesday evening of the news, expressed shock. According to him, the rapper was well-liked. He had, however, he had previously been attacked while in prison. “They said it was a stabbing to the neck,” Rosenberg said. “They said they’re investigating.”
For the time being, the correctional facility said it is limiting prisoners’ movement within the prison in order to aid the investigation. In the facility where Suede was incarcerated, there were more than 4,000 other inmates. That number comprised both minimum and medium security prisoners. No leads have been released as of yet, so there is very little indication of who might have wanted Suede dead.
According to reports, MoneySign Suede was serving a 32-month sentence at the facility for gun charges. The LA Times spoke to another inmate at the facility after the incident who asked to remain anonymous. However, he was able to give some insight into the atmosphere after the stabbing. The prisoner said that the news began to spread early Wednesday morning. In response, parts of the facility were shut down and breakfast was delayed. According to the unnamed inmate, Suede was housed in the general population, which is unusual for a popular rapper.
MoneySign Suede’s rise to fame started when he was just 18 years old. His track “Back To The Bag” earned him quite a bit of attention. Eventually, he ended up signing with Atlantic Records. Last September, Suede released his latest album Parkside Baby. Unfortunately, no one had any idea the record would be his last. Stay tuned for more updates about MoneySign Suede’s tragic passing. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Kawhi Leonard’s sister, Kimesha Williams, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of an elderly woman in a Southern California casino in 2019. Williams ambushed 84-year-old Afaf Assad in the bathroom of the casino to rob her of a purse containing approximately $1,000 for gambling while her friend, Candace Townsel, kept watch. Assad was later found bleeding on the floor with a fractured skull. She died four days later.
“This has been a long, painful journey through the criminal court justice system,” Assad’s daughter, Mary, said in the victim impact statement, according to the report. “I still can’t believe my mother was the victim of a violent crime. … Part of me died in that hospital room with her. My father is without his wife and partner and is isolated and alone in a way we cannot begin to understand … We seek not vengeance but there needs to be a reckoning for their heinous act.”
Kawhi Leonard Playing For The Clippers
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 16: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers handles the ball during the first half Game. One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on April 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Kimesha Williams argued that she did not kill Assad in a statement read in court by her attorney. “I am so sorry for your loss,” Williams’ statement read. She added: “I have been praying for you and your family every day. I am not responsible for the death of Mrs. Assad. Although the courts have found me guilty of the charges, we all know the truth, and that there is one judge, and that is God, and that he knows the truth.”
Leonard has not commented on the sentencing. He’s currently sitting out of the Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns due to a knee injury. Without Leonard, the Clippers are currently down 3-1 in the series to the Suns. The 31-year-old star scored 38 and 31 points in the first two games of the series. It is unclear when Leonard will be able to return to the court.
Bob Lee founded CashApp while affiliated with Square (Block) as Chief Technology Officer. Lee had previously worked as a Google Engineer before joining Square to develop the Android app, originally “Square Cash.” Further irradiating his dossier is the fact that he helped WHO develop its app during the Covid-19 pandemic. He did awesome things in his lifetime, so his death aroused agonizing curiosity. What killed Lee was the very fear he had just escaped. He had relocated to Miami based on the increased crime and was only visiting San Francisco when someone stabbed him.
A surveillance video displayed bits of his pre-death struggle. The incident occurred early morning in the San Francisco’s Rincon Hill neighborhood. Following the stabbing, Lee was walking, injured, and bleeding along the street. The footage also showed him seeking help from a Toyota Camry owner by showing him his stab wounds. The person behind the wheel wasn’t helpful, leaving Lee to bleed out in the street.
Reports also revealed that Lee called 911 at 2:34 a.m. screaming, “Help, someone stabbed me!” In a police scanner audio, a dispatcher alerted responding officers, quoting Lee’s SOS. “He’s bleeding out,” she added. Upon arrival, the police found him in excruciating pain, suffering from two fatal wounds to the chest. They rushed him to San Francisco General Hospital, where he sadly passed away.
There are many questions flooding people’s minds about this unfortunate occurrence. People have expressed their condolences despite being paper-blank about the stabbing itself. Josh Goldbard, CEO of MobileCoin, highlighted his memory of Lee while confirming his death. He described him as a “dynamo,” “a force of nature,” and “the genuine article.” Rick Lee, the bereaved father, equally put out his brief eulogy, referring to his son as his “best friend.”
He wrote on Facebook: “Bob would give you the shirt off his back.” He recounted his late son’s touching worldview as adhering to a “strict no-judgment philosophy.” There’s no denying it: Bob Lee was a kind genius. Everyone who knew him personally acknowledged that, emphatically.
Bob Lee Gone: More Reactions
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 7: Flowers and cards left as people paying tribute to Bob Lee near the Portside apartment building in San Francisco, California, United States on April 7, 2023. Bob Lee, the American technology entrepreneur who cofounded Cash App, the mobile payment service provider, was stabbed to death in the US city of San Francisco on Wednesday. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
San Francisco Mayor, London Breed, has referred to the painful death as a “horrible tragedy.” She also promised more details from the police following a thorough investigation. Not all could have been as close to the deceased as his father, but he certainly crossed note-worthy paths. “It’s so hard to believe he is gone,” Figma CEO Dylan Field tweeted. He recollected his sweet experience meeting Lee in 2006.
MMA fighter Jake Shields also called Bob Lee a “loyal friend” in a tweet that captured Elon Musk’s attention. “Many people I know have been severely assaulted,” Musk lamented. He went on to qualify crime in San Francisco as “horrific,” further tagging Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney. Musk’s comment is congruous with sparked concerns about safety in the Bay Area.
Block phenom, Jack Dorsey, posted on Nostr: “Bob was instrumental to Square and Cash App,” bemoaning the “heartbreaking” death. On the more formal side of the ongoing sympathy, the SFPD chief has remarked on current investigations. He told CBS News that it was too early to determine whether it was a targeted or random attack accurately. He also indicated he was withholding some information due to ethical caution. He was confident his officers would come through on their assurance to solve the homicide.
What Does This Mean For FinTech?
If you become mayor, my companies will double their investment in San Francisco.
Such an incredible city has been used & abused by management for too long!
The tragic death of Bob Lee has gone beyond further exposing San Francisco’s crime surge. It has put MobileCoin Inc. in the spotlight. Before the news, the Frisco-based startup was relatively unknown. The last thing MobileCoin needed was sudden attention in addition to mourning one of its best brains. Undoubtedly, the tech world as a universal set is united in grief. We should, however, be concerned about the subsequent stand of the private-crypto trend. Will Bob Lee’s successor be able to follow in his mature and anodyne footsteps? We might not know it yet, but the deceased tech giant could have been FinTech’s shield card.
Earlier this year, FBG Duck’s mom shocked the late rapper’s fans with the announcement of her OnlyFans page. We don’t have any updates on that at this time. However, she did return to social media earlier this week to provide some insight on the status of her son’s murder investigation. As you may recall, the rising artist was shopping in Chicago’s Gold Coast district in August 2020 when he was shot and killed. Witnesses at the scene report that two cars pulled up. Four men then emerged and began firing at him before fleeing the scene. Duck survived the trip to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, though he was later pronounced dead due to his injuries.
As XXL notes, five men were arrested in connection with the “Slide” hitmaker’s murder back in October 2021. Charles “C Murda” Liggins, Kenneth “Kenny” Roberson, Tacarlos “Los” Offerd, Christopher “C-Thang” Thomas, and Marcus “Muwop” Smart are their names. Upon being taken into custody, they were charged with murder in aid of racketeering and federal firearm violations and assaults in aid of racketeering. In addition to their crimes, all the men are allegedly members of Chi-town’s O-Block street gang. In her latest update, Duck’s mom claims that she knows who revealed her boy’s location to his ops, resulting in his untimely death.
FBG Duck’s Mom Updates Fans on Her Son’s Murder Investigation
FBG Duck’s Mother Reveals Teezy (THF46) Was Responsible For Dropping Her Sons Location Which Led To His Death. pic.twitter.com/H9VMKMQZlV
“They just told me I could tell y’all,” she informed viewers in a recent social media post. “His name is Ralph Turpin, also known as Teezy, THF Teezy. He was the one that saw my baby downtown from across the street. He told them motherf*ckers knowing they had a $100K bounty on my son’s head.” After battling through a moment of obvious emotion, Duck’s mom shrugged and said, “That’s what it is.”
For his part, Turpin is facing one count of committing murder in aid of racketeering, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. He remains in custody at this time and is expected to be back in court on April 23 for his next hearing. Check out FBG Duck’s mother‘s update above, and tap back in later for more hip-hop news.
33-Year-Old Ralph Turpin Charged
Ralph Turpin, 33, who is also known as “Tall” or “Teezy,” was charged with committing a murder in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office. Also charged in FBG Duck’s death are: Charles…
King Von was killed almost three years ago in a lounge shooting in Atlanta. A fight broke out between Von’s people and another group, resulting in two dead and four injured. The rapper’s murder remains unsolved, but plenty of information about him has come out in the years following his death. In 2021, the FBI named Von as the culprit in the killing of 17-year-old Gakirah “K.I.” Barnes. Both the rapper and Barnes were members of Chicago gangs. Earlier this year, FBI witnesses also revealed that he had put a $100k hit out on FBG Duck. Just days later, Duck’s mother took to Instagram to reveal that Von was also involved in the killing of Boss Trell. “Von allegedly killed Trell, him, and T. Roy,” she said. “Only the streets know and only the people who did it know, so that’s why I’m saying ‘allegedly’.”
Last week, Youtube documentarian Trap Lore Ross added a pretty serious accusation to the mounting number of disturbing headlines about King Von. Ross’ new documentary is a nearly four-hour exposé on the late rapper and his history of violence, titled King Von: Rap’s First Serial Killer. According to the video, Von had committed at least ten murders. The video didn’t last long, however.
Hiding Von’s Alleged Murderous Past
Video got taken down. Hopefully I can get it back soon, working with YouTube now but it’s Easter weekend. Still on Patreon if you’re desperate.
The YouTube documentary alleging that King Von was a serial killer didn’t last very long on the video platform. It was removed just two days after being posted. Trap Lore Ross tweeted a simple response, only saying, “Video got taken down.” The reason for the video’s removal is still unclear. It could simply be that there was a copyright claim on some of the material used for the documentary. This is often the case with Youtube videos. Still, given the serious accusations, it could very well be that the late rapper’s team is doing what they can to suppress them.
The documentary received mixed reactions from social media. “Ain’t gona lie I’ve just watched like 10mins of this documentary, and man o man,” said one Twitter user, praising the video. “The amount of effort that went into this is INSANE…” While there were plenty of compliments for Ross’ video, some felt the need to call him out for allegedly lying about Von. “Video taken down like I said,” one commented. “Any other bloggers wanna defame his character?” King Von may or may not have been a serial killer. Still, the late rapper was clearly involved in a number of violent crimes. What do you think of the allegations? Let us know in the comments below.
Alo Bandz tragically passed away after a February shooting, and officials recently arrested two teens in connection to the murder. Moreover, police took Julian James Vargas, 19, and a 14-year-old, whose name was not disclosed, for being suspects in shooting the rising San Diego rapper. Bandz, real name Caesar Lopez-Sandoval, was 22 years old at the time of his death. Furthermore, said arrests took place on Thursday (April 6), and both young men await their fates while under police custody. Also, said attack occurred in the Clairemont area park and resulted in yet another promising career cut tragically short.
To elaborate, authorities found Alo Bandz on a patch of grass near some bleachers at the North Clairemont Recreation Center. From what reports indicate, officials found him alive as he struggled to breathe due to multiple shots to his chest. According to San Diego Police Department Lieutenant Steve Shebloski, the rapper was rushed to a local hospital by emergency respondents, where he was pronounced deceased. In addition, the lieutenant gave some details about the incident as the teenagers presumably await trial and sentencing following their arrest.
Suspects In Alo Bandz Murder Arrested By San Diego Police
Furthermore, Shebloski believes that Alo Bandz and the two suspects got into a fight at the park during midday. However, he could not provide details as to what motivated the scuffle, only that it resulted in firearms coming out. After the two teens presumably shot the rapper, families and young children quickly fled the scene and scattered across the park. With that chaos in mind, Vargas and his cohort escaped the premises and left Bandz’s body at the scene. Then, upon responding to the incident, police interviewed various witnesses to the crime and promptly took both suspects into custody.
All this information came through reports from the San Diego Union-Tribune. In a press release from the police department, Lieutenant Adam Sharki revealed that they took Vargas in at around 8:00 a.m. on Thursday (April 6) under suspicion of murder. Given he’s over 18 as opposed to his co-suspect, Vargas was booked in county jail. He now faces arraingement in the San Diego Superior Court on Monday afternoon (April 10). Meanwhile, the minor that’s suspected of murder fell under police custody at around 9:00 a.m. the same day. He is now in a juvenile hall. For more on the Alo Bandz case, log back into HNHH.
