On June 18, 2018, three men reportedly killed 22-year-old XXXTentacion in his car after the rapper had finished motorcycle shopping.
First responders transported the unresponsive rapper to Broward Health North as a level 1 trauma patient. Later, medical professionals pronounce him dead. After investigation, the authorities determined that Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome were responsible for XXXTentacion’s murder. The police brought them to trial earlier this year.
At a young age, the rapper played a prominent role in the rise of the SoundCloud rap scene and became a prominent figure. However, his untimely death became a huge shock for everyone.
XXXTentacion became the rising star of hip-hop before getting killed
The track “Look At Me!” marked XXXTentacion‘s breakthrough in the music industry after he spent several years working on his craft. He reportedly had a troubled childhood. When he was six, he attempted to stab a man who was “messing with” his mother. His mom, facing financial struggles, primarily raised him with the help of his grandmother. His songs went on to became huge hits, with fans believing that the rapper’s future was bright.
However, everything changed on June 8, 2018. Three unknown men gunned down the rapper when he was only 22. Two masked gunmen confronted XXXTentacion at the driver’s window, with one of them shooting him repeatedly. During the trial, prosecutors linked Boatwright, Williams, and Newsome to the shooting in suburban Fort Lauderdale. They shot him outside a South Florida motorcycle shop while robbing him of $50,000.
The prosecutors also presented cellphone videos recorded by the men. In addition, they had the testimony of Robert Allen, a former friend of the defendants who confessed to participating in the robbery.
On March 20, 2023, the jury found all three defendants guilty on all counts. Deliberations in the XXXTentacion’s case lasted much longer than most had expected. Moreover, the duration initially led to speculation that there might have been a hung jury.
After eight days, the jury reportedly reached a guilty verdict for Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome on charges of robbery and first-degree murder of XXXTentacion in less than an hour of deliberation. Meanwhile, the judge imposed a sentence of seven years in prison on Robert Allen, with credit for four years, nine months, and 21 days served. This would be followed by 20 years of probation.
