Tracy Awino
The Los Angeles Police Department has reportedly arrested five individuals in connection with the February home invasion murder of Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke.
On Thursday, police shared an update on Pop’s investigation, tweeting, “LAPD Detectives have arrested three adult males & two juvenile males related to the Feb 19th murder of Bashar Jackson, a New York-based rapper known as Pop Smoke. We will provide further details as they become available.”
The 20-year-old burgeoning rapper, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, was fatally shot and killed during a home invasion at his Hollywood Hills home on February 19. Initially, police did not believe his death was connected to a robbery since the home where the shooting took place was owned by Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp.
Before his sudden death, Pop Smoke released two mixtapes, 2019’s Meet the Woo and its sequel Meet the Woo 2 in 2020, which debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. He was heavily endorsed by New York finest including Nicki Minaj, who jumped on the remix to his breakout single “Welcome to the Party” and 50 Cent, who executive produced his posthumous debut, Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon.
“Oh [snap], what was the police waiting for his album to drop too?” 50 wrote on Instagram after hearing the news from TMZ. “R.I.P Pop Smoke.”
By Rachel George
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