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Murder of Pop Smoke

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Murder of Pop Smoke
Map of the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles
LocationHollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California
DateFebruary 19, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-02-19)
c. 4:30 a.m.[1] (PST)
TargetBashar Barakah Jackson, a.k.a. Pop Smoke
Attack type
Murder by shooting, home invasion
DeathsBashar Barakah Jackson, a.k.a.  Pop Smoke
MotiveUnder investigation
AccusedShooter:
Unnamed 15-year old
Accomplices:
  • Jaquan Murphy
  • Keandre D. Rodgers
  • Corey Walker
ConvictedConvicted as an accomplice:
Unnamed 17-year old
Verdict17-year old:
Pleaded guilty
Convictions17-year old:
Voluntary manslaughter, home invasion robbery
ChargesFirst degree murder with special circumstances[2]
Sentence17-year old:
4 years and 2 months in juvenile detention[3]

On February 19, 2020, Bashar Barakah Jackson, better known as Pop Smoke, was renting a house through Airbnb owned by The Real Housewives star Teddi Mellencamp and her husband, Edwin Arroyave, in Hollywood Hills, California.[4][5] At around 4:30 a.m., five hooded men, including one wearing a ski mask and carrying a handgun, broke into the house through a second-story balcony.[6][7][8] The intruders held a gun to a woman's head and threatened to kill her.[9][5] Shortly thereafter, the woman heard the men shoot Jackson three times after an altercation.[5]

The LAPD received news of the home invasion from a call from the East Coast.[10] Police arrived at the home six minutes later and found Jackson with multiple gunshot wounds.[11] He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors performed a thoracotomy on the left side of his chest.[12] A few hours later, he was pronounced dead.[13][14] He was 20 years old. On February 21, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner revealed that the cause of Jackson's death was a gunshot wound to the chest.[6]

The LAPD at first suspected that Jackson's death was gang-related, as he was tied to the Crips.[13] However, the LAPD later believed his death was the consequence of a home robbery gone wrong.[15] It was believed the intruders stole Jackson's gold watch and other jewelry before running away from the house.[9] In May 2021, a 15-year-old, the youngest of the four intruders, allegedly admitted to killing Jackson over a diamond-studded Rolex during a recorded interview with a cellmate at a juvenile detention center.[16] The 15-year-old told the cellmate that Jackson at first complied with their requests for jewelry but then tried to fight them, and a confrontation broke out in which Jackson was pistol-whipped and shot with a Beretta M92.[17] The intruders made off with his Rolex, which they sold for $2,000.[16][17]

The day before his murder, Jackson and friend Michael Durodola[18] posted several images on social media, including one in which Mellencamp's home address can be seen in the background.[13] The rapper also posted a story on Instagram and Facebook of gifts he had received.[13] One showed the house's full address on the packaging, giving out its location.[13]

Jackson's body was originally planned to be buried at the Cypress Hills Cemetery but was later changed to Green-Wood Cemetery.[19] Family, friends, and fans of Jackson gathered in his hometown of Canarsie, Brooklyn, to show their respects.[20] His casket was pulled in a horse-drawn carriage and was surrounded by glass windows and white curtains.[20][21] On September 11, 2021, it was discovered that his grave site was vandalized, with the headstone smashed.[22]

On July 9, 2020, three adult men and two minors were arrested for the murder of the rapper.[23] One of the adult suspects has been charged with murder with a special circumstance that alleged the killing was committed "during the commission of a robbery and a burglary", and another charged with attempted murder.[24][25] The two juveniles were charged with murder and robbery in juvenile court.[25][24]

Remembrance

[edit]

Jackson's parents, Audrey and Greg Jackson, shared memories of their son before saying how gun violence took him away from them.

On February 19th, at 4:00 AM, a gun was used to take my son from me. You know him as Pop Smoke, we called him 'Shar'. Because of gun violence, I'll never see my son run up the front of our steps, taking them two at a time; he won't ever take my hands again and dance with me; he won't come into my room and muscle pose in the mirror. Gun violence destroys families. It must stop.[26]

— Audrey Jackson during a "Gun Violence Destroys Families" public service announcement

Danny Schwartz wrote in The Ringer that "Pop Smoke conquered New York rap and gave the city the kind of readymade and potentially defining star it hadn't seen in years". He claimed that "in the city, ['Welcome to the Party'] was more omnipresent than hits like 'Old Town Road'."[27]

Jackson's work ethic was widely praised by his peers in the music industry. The executive producer of his posthumous album, 50 Cent, told the New York Times that Jackson wrote down 50 Cent's advice, while Quavo added he "felt like [he] was talking to somebody that had been in the game for three years already".

References

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  1. ^ Bekiempis, Victoria (May 11, 2021). "The Biggest Revelations From the Pop Smoke Murder Case Hearings". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "4 charged in murder of rapper Pop Smoke, 2 face death penalty". ABC News. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "Man pleads guilty in rapper Pop Smoke's death, is sentenced to four years". Los Angeles Times. April 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "Rapper Pop Smoke Murdered In Home Invasion ...By 4 Masked Gunmen". TMZ. February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Dillon, Nancy (May 7, 2021). "Murdered Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke was kicked on ground after being shot: witness". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Fry, Hannah; Brown, August; Winton, Richard (February 19, 2020). "Rapper Pop Smoke gunned down in Hollywood Hills home". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  7. ^ "Pop Smoke Dies At 20 After Home Invasion". Vibe. February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Yoo, Noah (February 19, 2020). "Rapper Pop Smoke killed during shooting inside multi-million dollar Hollywood Hills home, sources say". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Price, Joe (May 7, 2021). "Witness Account of Pop Smoke's Fatal Shooting Detailed in Court Hearing". Complex. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  10. ^ Harris, Elizabeth A. (July 9, 2020). "In Pop Smoke Murder Investigation, Evidence Sends Mixed Messages". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "Rapper Pop Smoke slain in Hollywood Hills, reports say". The Associated Press. February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  12. ^ "Pop Smoke Will Be Laid To Rest In Brooklyn". TMZ. July 19, 2020. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e Haylock, Zoe (July 9, 2020). "Everything We Know About Pop Smoke's Death". Vulture. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Thomas, Hobbs (February 19, 2021). "The Pop Smoke phenomenon: How the late rapper became a superstar in death". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  15. ^ "Pop Smoke Murder Case How LAPD Found Alleged Killers ...The Old-Fashioned Way!!!". TMZ. July 19, 2020. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Dillon, Nancy (May 7, 2021). "Pop Smoke was murdered by 15-year-old shooter who admitted slaying to detention center cellmate: detective testifies". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Olding, Rachel (May 7, 2021). "Rapper Pop Smoke Was Shot by 15-Year-Old Over Diamond-Studded Rolex: Detective". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  18. ^ Farrell, Paul (February 19, 2020). "Mike Dee aka Michael Durodola Was Staying With Pop Smoke". Heavy. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  19. ^ Dillon, Nancy (December 20, 2020). "Pop Smoke to be laid to rest in Brooklyn as suspects in his murder 'still at large'". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Contreras, Cydney (March 5, 2020). "Pop Smoke Laid to Rest in Brooklyn 2 Weeks After Murder". E! Online. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  21. ^ "Pop Smoke Laid To Rest At Brooklyn Funeral". Rap-Up. March 5, 2020. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  22. ^ "Police investigating after Pop Smoke's gravesite vandalised". The Independent. September 12, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  23. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (July 9, 2020). "5 Arrested in Connection With Pop Smoke Killing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
    - Sanchez, Rosa (December 20, 2020). "4 charged in murder of rapper Pop Smoke, 2 face death penalty". ABC News. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
    - "Pop Smoke: Four charged with rapper's murder". BBC News. December 20, 2020. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Dillon, Nancy (February 22, 2021). "Pop Smoke murder suspect refuses another delay, due to face witnesses next month with former O.J. prosecutor Christopher Darden as defense lawyer". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Freiman, Jordan (July 14, 2020). "4 charged in murder of rapper Pop Smoke". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  26. ^ Woodcock, Zara; Pike, Molly (February 19, 2021). "Rapper Pop Smoke was killed in home invasion after tragic social media mistake". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  27. ^ Schwartz, Danny (February 20, 2020). "The Power of Pop Smoke". The Ringer. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
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