Four teenagers have been charged in connection with the murder of Pop Smoke. Two of the suspects will be tried as adults and could face the death penalty.
According to ABC News, Corey Walker, 19, and Keandre Rodgers, 18, were each charged with murder. The special circumstance allegation that the killing happened during a robbery and a burglary means that two men are eligible for the death penalty.
Meanwhile, the other two defendants, ages 17 and 15, were each charged with one count of murder and robbery in juvenile court.
Earlier this week, TMZ reported that five individuals had been taken into custody, although the specific charges weren't made public at that time.
The LAPD had initially revealed the name of a fifth suspect named Jaquan Murphy, 21, but he no longer appears to be a suspect in the murder.
The LAPD believes the individuals are members of a South LA gang, although the department would not specify which organization. According to The Associated Press, “At least some of them are believed to be linked to the 2019 homicide of an 18-year-old man when a fight escalated into a shooting outside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.”
The Los Angeles Times reports that the suspects did not personally know Pop Smoke, but merely committed the crime after the rapper posted his location on social media.
Pop Smoke was shot and killed in what was deemed a home invasion in Hollywood Hills, California on February 19. Local authorities originally reported that four hooded men entered the residence at 4:30 a.m., as police then arrived on the scene after receiving news of the invasion to find Pop Smoke with multiple gunshot wounds.
Be sure to check back with us for more on this ongoing murder investigation.
