Following years of litigation, justice is served in XXXTentacion's murder case. The rapper was at a motorbike shop in Florida in the summer of 2018 when he was accosted. XXXTentacion, real name Jahseh Onfroy, was in his vehicle leaving the establishment's parking lot when an SUV blocked his entrance. The thieves reportedly intended to only rob people around town, and when they spotted the rapper, they thought they scored big. However, the botched robbery turned deadly within seconds, and at 20 years old, Onfroy was dead.
The trial has been a strange process where rappers found their names entangled in controversy. However, it's come to an end, for now, after three of the four suspects were found guilty of the crime. Dedrick Williams, 26, Trayvon Newsome, 24, and Michael Boatwright, 28, will soon be sentenced for first-degree murder. A fourth suspect, Robert Allen, turned State's witness and testified against his co-conspirators. The three found guilty today (March 20) face life sentences. Prosecutors decided against seeking the death penalty.
XXXTentacion's Rap Beefs Brought Up In Court
Hip Hop fans know that "beefs" within the genre make for huge moments for artists, but they don't often become focal points in murder cases. Although Robert Allen clearly stated on the stand that he and his former friends pulled off the deadly scheme, defense attorneys attempted to paint him as an unreliable witness. Additionally, XXXTentacion's tension with his Rap peers also stole attention, including his rift with Drake. The OVO mogul's name was repeatedly mentioned during the weeks-long trial, and the defense even tried to depose him. Drake was able to dodge involvement and allegations of setting up a hit on the late rapper. 600 Breezy's name was also mentioned, but he was not asked to appear at the trial. Allen was questioned if he and the other suspects had any affiliation with Drake, and he denied knowing the hitmaker.
From the trial's onset, prosecutors seemingly believed a guilty verdict was the expected outcome. Following the crime, the suspects reportedly made off with $50,000 in cash—which they split unevenly with Allen, who testified he didn't exit the SUV when the murder was committed. Further, photos were introduced during the trial that showed the suspects flashing the cash and celebrating after XXXTentacion was killed. Surveillance video and cell phone data also placed the suspects at the crime scene. A sentencing hearing date has not yet been shared, but we will keep you updated as more information is released. Watch a portion of Robert Allen's testimony above.
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