A jury has convicted three men in the shooting death of XXXTentacion following more than a week of deliberations.
The rapper, whose real name is Jahseh Onfroy, was shot to death in June 2018 as he was leaving a motorcycle store near Miami. The controversial rapper was 20.
Three Men Convicted Of First-Degree Murder, Armed Robbery In XXXTentacion’s 2018 Shooting Death
On Monday, Dedrick Williams, 26; Trayvon Newsome, 24; and Michael Boatwright, 28, were each found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in Broward County court.
The trio had initially pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, a fourth person, Robert Allen, 25, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year and testified on behalf of the prosecution against the other three.
The first-degree murder charges all carry life sentences.
The rapper was shot to death when an SUV ambushed and blocked his vehicle, when two masked gunmen came out of it, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
Rapper’s Shooting Death Captured On CCTV, Defense Tried To Claim Murder Stemmed From Drake Feud
The assailants grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag from the car with $50,000 inside and fled in the SUV before police could arrive, The Shade Room previously reported.
Prosecutors added that Boatwright was the gunman, with Newsome being the other gunman and Williams serving as the getaway driver.
CCTV footage played in court showed the attack as it unfolded, showing the two masked gunmen with firearms aimed at the rapper’s car as one appears to shoot through the driver’s side window.
RELATED: Judge Grants Drake’s Motion To Avoid Deposition In XXXTentacion’s Murder Trial
The defense had attempted to undermine Allen’s testimony, and noted investigators failed to follow up on a feud with fellow rapper Drake, however prosecutors said there was no evidence to link him to XXXTentacion’s murder, The Shade Room reported last month.
Just last month, Drake’s attorney filed a motion to overrule subpoena request, which the judge ultimately granted.
GUILTY VERDICT
JUSTICE 4 XXX REST IN PARADISE 🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊 pic.twitter.com/cu9mR1aDCF— Denise (@Mz_ThickCoCo) March 20, 2023
XXXTentacion: A Brief History Of A Life And Career Cut Short
XXXTentacion become a breakout star in 2017 after dropping the track “Look at Me” on SoundCloud, which eventually climbed to No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Just a few months later, he parlayed that success into a $6 million record deal with Capital Music Group, where he gained a massive fan base for his music, which openly dealt with topics such as depression and loneliness.
However the rapper’s short career was not without controversy, as he was arrested in 2016 on multiple charges including aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, false imprisonment and witness tampering, according to court records.
