In March 2023, the court found three men guilty of committing first-degree murder in the 2018 killing of rapper XXXTentacion. While robbing him of $50,000, they shot him outside a South Florida motorcycle shop.
The rapper had just exited from Riva Motorsports when an SUV swerved in front of his BMW, blocking the way. Surveillance video showed two masked gunmen confronting the singer at the driver’s window, with one gunman shooting him repeatedly. After an extensive investigation, the authorities found three men—Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome—guilty of the young musician’s murder and put them on trial earlier this year.
As a music artist, XXXTentacion achieved platinum-selling status and addressed issues like prejudice and depression in his songs. However, he also faced criticism for his bad behavior and multiple arrests, including charges of abusing his girlfriend.
Who are the three men found guilty of XXXTentacion’s murder?
During the month-long trial, prosecutors established links between Boatwright, Williams, and Newsome and the shooting in suburban Fort Lauderdale. They presented surveillance video that was captured inside and outside the store, along with cellphone videos the men recorded.
Born on September 12, 1995, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Michael S. Boatwright had multiple murder arrests, mainly on drug-related charges. Meanwhile, Dedrick Williams had a significant criminal record with offenses that included burglary, theft, and assault. Both of them affiliated themselves with the ZMF Gang. As for Newsome, information regarding his previous charges have been scarce.
Prosecutors also possessed the testimony of Robert Allen, a former friend of the defendants who confessed to participating in the robbery. A jury reportedly found Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome guilty of robbery and first-degree murder of XXXTentacion in less than an hour after deliberating for eight days.
Where are XXXTentacion’s killers now?
According to Florida Department of Corrections, Boatwright is currently in Northwest Florida Reception Center while Dedrick Williams is in Wakulla Correctional Institution. On the other hand, Newsome is serving life sentence in Suwannee Correctional Institution.
