Pop Smoke’s Death: Four Charged With His Murder

Four people, including two teens, has been charged with the murder of Pop Smoke at Hollywood Hills Home in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors said Corey Walker, 19, and Keandre Rodgers, 18 and two other juveniles aged 15 and 17, who can’t be named because of their age allegedly killed the Brooklyn rapper during a robbery attack.

In a statement released by the district attorney’s office;

“Two men and two teens have been charged with killing rap artist Pop Smoke during a robbery in February, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Corey Walker (dob 11/22/00) and Keandre Rodgers (dob 2/12/02) were each charged today in case BA488518 with murder with the special circumstance allegation that the murder occurred during the commission of a robbery and a burglary, making them eligible for the death penalty. The complaint also alleges gang and gun allegations.

Both defendants are expected to be arraigned today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Additionally, two male juveniles, ages 17 and 15, were each charged with one count of murder and robbery in juvenile court.

On February 19, sometime around 4 a.m., the defendants are accused of breaking into a home in the Hollywood Hills where 20-year-old Bashar Barakah Jackson, known as Pop Smoke, was staying. Jackson was shot and killed.

Walker and Rodgers face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged. A decision on whether to seek capital punishment will be made at a later date.

 The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.”

However, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested three adults and two teenagers connected with the shooting, but the third adult, Jaquan Murphy, 21, has not been charged.

Bashar Barakah Jackson, popularly known as Pop Smoke, was an up-and-coming rapper and leader in the Brooklyn drill movement. He was killed on February 19, 2020, by some unknown men who broke into a Hollywood Hills Home where he stayed while visiting Los Angeles.

The Brooklyn rapper, aged 20, started his music career in 2018. He gained fame after his single release, “Welcome to the Party” in April 2019. 

 His debut studio album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, was posthumously released in July 2020 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with all 19 tracks from the album the Billboard Hot 100.