4 charged in Los Angeles death of rising rapper Pop Smoke

Two men and two teens have been charged in death of rising rapper Pop Smoke who was killed during a Los Angeles home-invasion robbery in February, district attorney’s office said Monday.

Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement that Corey Walker and Keandre Rodgers were charged with murder that occurred during commission of a robbery and burglary. two male juveniles were also charged with murder and robbery while in juvenile court.

20-year-old New York rapper, whose legal name is Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed Feb. 19 at a home in Hollywood Hills. A 911 call from a friend of someone in house reported armed intruders inside home, police previously said.

Walker, 19, and Rodgers, 18, face death penalty or life in prison without possibility of parole if convicted. Both are expected to be arraigned Monday.

Jaquan Murphy, 21, was also arrested in connection to incident last week. complaint includes gang and gun allegations.

Capt. Jonathan Tippet, who oversees Los Angeles Police Department’s elite Robbery-Homicide Division, said three men and two teen boys likely went to home because y knew Pop Smoke was re from social media posts. y stole items from home, though Tippet said he could t divulge what was taken.

All five are believed to be members of a South Los Angeles gang, which Tippet would t name, and at least some of m are believed to be linked to a 2019 homicide when a fight escalated into a shooting outside Rose Bowl in Pasena.

Authorities did t initially believe rapper’s death was related to a robbery. home where shooting occurred is owned by Edwin Arroyave and his wife Teddi Mellencamp, a star of “ Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and daughter of Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer John Mellencamp.

Teddi Mellencamp previously said on Instagram that couple h been tified of shooting at ir rental property but knew more than what y h seen in media reports.

Pop Smoke arrived on rap scene in 2018 and broke out with “Welcome to Party” a gangsta anm with boasts about shootings, killings and drugs that became a huge sensation, and prompted Nicki Minaj to drop a verse on a remix.

Earlier this year, Pop Smoke released mixtape “Meet Woo 2,” which debuted at . 7 on Billboard Top 200 albums chart. It was follow up to his first official release, “Meet Woo.” rapper also h popular hit “Gatti” with Travis Scott and Jackboys and “Dior.”

His major label debut album, “Shoot for Stars Aim for Moon,” was executive produced by 50 Cent. It was released posthumously July 3 to mostly positive reviews and features appearances from popular artists including Future, DaBaby and Quavo.

Pop Smoke h been scheduled to start a U.S. tour in Washington, D.C., on March 2.

Im credit: AP