Pop Smoke's killer pleads guilty and is sentenced to four years in juvenile treatment facility
One of the people accused of killing the rapper Pop Smoke has pleaded guilty to the crime.
The man, who was 17 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
The killing is believed to have taken place during a home invasion robbery, and the defendant also pleaded guilty to home invasion robbery.
Judge J. Christopher Smith sentenced the defendant, who is now 20, to four years and two months in a juvenile treatment facility, due to his status as a minor at the time of the crime. His name has also been withheld throughout the trial due to that status.
Three other men have also been charged in the death of Pop Smoke (born Bashar Barakah Jackson) after he was gunned down on February 19, 2020, during a robbery.
Admission: One of the men accused of robbing and killing the late rapper Pop Smoke has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to four years and two months in a juvenile treatment facility; Pop Sokes seen in January 2020 in Paris
Tragic: Pop Smoke was gunned down on February 19, 2020, after four men allegedly broke into a house he was staying at in LA to rob it, before struggling with him and shooting him
Pop Smoke was only 20 at the time of his death.
The hitmaker was spending time in a rented house in Los Angeles was owned by former Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp and her husband for a four-day trip to the city.
LAPD detectives initially believed the killing to be gang-related, but later determined that it was a robbery turned violent, as Pop Smoke had shared posts to Instagram in the days leading up to the killing that showed off pricy gifts he had recently received.
The address for the home was also clearly visible in at least one of the posts.
The rapper was ambushed while in the shower, and a struggle reportedly ensued, at which point he was pistol whipped by one of the assailants before being shot three times in the back.
A friend of someone staying in the house had called 911 to report the intruders, according to police.
The rapper's body was discovered shortly afterward, and he was subsequently declared dead after being transported to a hospital.
Pop Smoke, who was born in Brooklyn, was a rising star at the time of his tragic death early last year.
He had a string of popular singles starting in 2019, and he released two acclaimed mixtapes, Meet The Woo and Meet The Woo 2.
The latter, released on February 7, 2020, debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 album chart, making his first top 10 placing.
But the rapper would be gunned down less than two weeks after the success.
Defendants: Corey Walker has also been charged with the crime, as well as two other men who were minors at the time. The juvenile defendants have not had their names publicly released; seen in 2020 in Paris
Late success: Pop Smoke was a rising star at the time, and two posthumous albums released in 2020 and 2021 were hits; seen in 2019 in LA
Detective Christian Carrasco of the LAPD testified in court in 2021 that a woman who was in the house with Pop Smoke saw the robbers take his 'large gold watch,' which they allegedly sold for $2,000.
Following his murder, Pop Smoke's debut album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon was released in July 2020 and topped the Billboard 200 chart.
It was followed by a second hit album, Faith, in July of this year. It was also a number one hit, though both albums received mixed reviews.
Corey Walker has also been charged in the crime, as well as two other men who were minors at the time.
Source: Daily Mail
