Up-and-coming rapper Pop Smoke died Wednesday, Feb. 19, in what initially was believed to be a home invasion gone wrong. However, as the case unfolds, some outlets are saying the slaying was not a robbery gone wrong but instead a targeted hit.
News broke Wednesday that the 20-year-old rapper was shot and killed after two men broke into his home in Hollywood Hills wearing hoodies and masks and began firing multiple shots. However, new evidence suggests more than two men were at the scene of the crime. According to TMZ, surveillance footage shows four men sneaking into the back of his mansion at approximately 4:30 a.m.
The surveillance footage continues by depicting three of the four men walking back up to the side of the house while the fourth man walked through the back door. The fourth man later is seen exiting the front door of the house.
People speculated the incident was an armed robbery because earlier that day Smoke posted on his Instagram Story a photo of himself and a friend holding what appeared to be a large amount of money. In addition, the rapper posted a picture of a gift he received with his address displayed on it. In spite of Smoke’s social media postings, people were shocked to know the gunmen took nothing out of his place. This led fans to believe his killers are people the rapper knew personally.
The Los Angeles Police Department reportedly believes the rapper’s murder was gang-related. According to Yahoo, authorities described what they called Smoke’s ties to the Crips gang during a court hearing involving a stolen Rolls-Royce. Smoke was arrested last month on charges of stealing a 2019 Rolls-Royce valued around $375,000. The Brooklyn rapper is alleged to have used the car in a music video shoot in California last November and then taken the vehicle to New York instead of returning it to its owner. He was charged with transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines, to which he pleaded not guilty. While the stolen car case is still under investigation, police do not know if the car case has any connection to his murder.
No suspects in his slaying have been identified.
