Rapper Pop Smoke was killed in home invasion after tragic social media mistake

On February 19 2020, the music industry lost a rising star after Pop Smoke was shot to death in a home invasion at a rented mansion in the Hollywood Hills.

Pop Smoke, real name Bashar Barakah Jackson, was only 20 years old when he was killed in what many believed was a robbery gone wrong.

Four people, including two adults and two minors, were charged with robbery and murder following Smoke's death in July 2020.

Corey Walker and Keandre Rodgers were the two adults involved. They have been charged but have yet to enter pleas, while two males, aged 15 and 17, who weren't named because of their age, face the same charges.

Many of the Dior rapper's fans believed the alleged robbery was linked to photos the star posted online hours beforehand showing a pile of cash and a luxury car as well as designer goods.

His close friend Mike Dee had also posted images to his social media, including one where the rental home’s address could be partly seen.

Mike and Pop Smoke were both posing with a white Range Rover and the last few digits of the home address could be seen on the top left corner of the image.

He also tagged "Beverly Hills, California" as the location, making it easy for many to search their rented residence.

It wasn’t the first instance in which an address was posted as the Brooklyn artist also shared a video story on both Instagram and Facebook, which he then swiftly deleted.

It showed many designer bags, where the house's full address - although fairly blurry - could be seen on the front of the packaging.

The authorities, who were called to the scene by a friend of someone in the house, were made aware of the rented address being shared online and said at the time it "was an angle" they were looking at.

Robbery Homicide Division Captain Jonathan Tippet had said: "It also extends the pool of people that would have known where he was at and could have targeted him for a variety of reasons."

Fans had taken to Twitter with screenshots from his deleted Stories, suggesting the social media slip-up could be linked to the tragedy.

However, Tippett explained to the New York Times: "There were a couple of items that were taken, but some of the things you would think would be taken weren’t even really looked for.

"So that’s why we’re not really saying that it was a robbery or that he was the intended target."

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the murder took place at 4:29 am and the suspects wore masks as they entered the residence.

After being shot, the rapper was taken to Cedar's Sinai hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Autopsy reports determined a gunshot wound to the torso was the cause of his death.

Months after Pop Smoke’s death, in July 2020, his debut album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The album, which was executive-produced by 50 Cent, remained on the chart for 28 weeks and still sits in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 over half a year after the initial release.

Meanwhile, the drill legend’s family recently collaborated with the Brooklyn Borough President and the Entertainers For Education Alliance - I Will Graduate organisation to present a heart-wrenching public service announcement on gun violence.

The PSA is named ‘Gun Violence Destroys Families’ and was promoted to mark the first anniversary of Pop Smoke’s death.

His parents, Audrey and Greg Jackson, shared memories of their son before discussing how gun violence took their son away from them.

Audrey recalled: “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.”Follow the Official Rokna NEWS Telegram Channel For More and fresh NEWS.

Mirror