Pop Smoke (real name Bashar Barakah Jackson) was shot and killed at a Hollywood Hills home in February 2020, just as his career was about to explode. Roughly five months later, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested multiple people for the murder, including two juveniles.
The New York Daily News now reports a detective involved in the case testified in court on Friday (May 7) and revealed the group of teens believed to be responsible for the killing were desperate to steal Pop Smoke’s diamond-studded Rolex. The alleged triggerman was also just 15 years old.
The investigator said they had their eyes on Pop Smoke’s Cuban link chain but only managed to get the watch, which they then resold for a mere $2,000.
The 15-year-old alleged shooter is the youngest of the four defendants facing murder and robbery charges in the case. He allegedly confessed to his role in the murder during a recorded interview with a cellmate at a juvenile detention center in May 2020.
“He admitted that he shot the victim three times with a Baretta 9 (mm.),” LAPD Detective Carlos Camacho testified at a preliminary hearing for co-defendant Corey Walker, the only adult involved in the case.
The detective said the teen “admitted they asked for the jewelry” and then had “a confrontation” with Pop Smoke before ultimately killing him.
“They got into a fight, and he shot him three times,” Camacho said. “He said he shot him on the back.”
Walker confessed to his role during another secretly recorded jailhouse interview with a different informant placed in his cell after his July 2020 arrest. He allegedly admitted the group used ski masks, gloves and a police scanner to try to “evade detection.”
Camacho added, “He said that when the individuals got inside, the suspects confronted (Pop Smoke), who was in the shower naked.”
Walker’s defense attorney Christopher Darden asked Judge H. Clay Jacke II to reduce the charges but Jacke refused, ruling there was “sufficient cause” to send Walker to trial.
On Thursday (May 6), Detective Christian Carrasco took the stand and recounted testimony from a woman who was in the house when Pop Smoke was killed. She told him one of the men pressed a black semiautomatic firearm to her forehead and screamed, “Shut the fuck up. Do you want to die?”
Carrasco added, “She heard a struggle coming from the shower area and heard Mr. Jackson screaming. Mr. Jackson ran out of the bathroom and then she heard a loud pop and [heard] Mr. Jackson fall to the ground. Two other individuals began to kick him.”
Pop Smoke’s parents, who both attended the hearing, were audibly shocked by what they heard.
“I didn’t know any of this,” Audrey Jackson said. “It’s all new. I just knew my boy was gone. Now it really feels like he’s not coming back. I don’t know what I thought being here would do. I thought something would happen that would help me feel differently. But to hear they kicked him when he was down. It’s so disrespectful and dishonorable.
There was no honor in this. And the irony in this is that those same kids are the kids he said he made music for. There need to be consequences, sufficient consequences. But as a people, we have work to do. Our children are killing each other. This just makes absolutely no sense to me.”
Pop Smoke’s Brother Lashes Out At Friends Who Didn’t Avenge His Murder
Pop Smoke was only 20 years old at the time of his death. Upon arriving at a local hospital, doctors attempted an emergency surgery called a left thoracotomy, but he suffered a “rapid” decline and couldn’t be saved, according to his death certificate.
Walker is expected back in court on June 3. If convicted, the Los Angeles County district attorney said he would be eligible for the death penalty.
Lmfao dude got popped and smoked by a fuckin kid ??? that ain’t gangsta
Yes he got killed by a 15 year old and when he was downed he kept getting kicked and this is sad he got killed over a rolex that’s dumb like rappers get killed because people are jealous and that’s stupid like just because a rapper is successful doesn’t mean be jealous of their fame rip pop smoke that’s sad because the kid isn’t even 18 he got house arrested or i think because I think that you can get arrested at any age 13 and up i think idk but pop smoke and dude doesn’t matter if it’s not gangsta its voilence nobody should have to suffer lie this he should have a death sentence but wow
Rap music failed these kids. They were too dumb and impressionable to separate bullshit from reality. Fell into the trap. Start charging these parents for these little stupids out here with no brains
Hahahaha. He said parents. Do you think any of these people including Pop smoked knows who their dad is?
But you know who your dad is right? The german shepherd, which explains why you’re so good at digs and taking commands.
To be honest that what you get for living by the gun or at least pretending to … “the culture” needs to change … promoting or supporting a culture of crime and uncontrolled violence is the path to self-destruction … it only cements the stereotypes and perception of those whose viewpoints “the culture” deems false
Stop flexing on the Internet kids. The cosplay Crip from New York got killed by some real Crips in LA. All because he had to show his shit off. There’s a lesson to be learned there.
Real or “cosplay” the results are usually the same, potentially killed or jailed.
these comments are all dumb…. Pop was a YOUNG kid who came from an environment that NONE of you can relate too… REMEBER this… Jay-Z and 50 BOTH dropped their debut albums at 26, and LOOK what they have become now… SUCCESSFUL MOGULS…. POP never had the chance to grow and mature out of that environment… VERY SAD… RIP YOUNG KING
A king he was not … stop inflating the worth of shitbags just because they have money and you like their music
You know every time you look in the mirror you see a coward who talks tough with his keyboard.You will never amount to .0000000000000001 percent of what pop smoke achieved in his life.Be mad at your parents for having you,not rappers who made you envious.Clown
I will amount to much more, actually… I already have. Smiley face emoji. I’ve lived to be 10 years older than him, I own 2 homes, 2 cars, a motorcycle and have a college education. I also am happily married. I have a Rolex too, amongst a couple of other watches. Mine cost me 13K. It’s a Sea Dweller, just the stainless steel one. No one has one ever killed me for it. LOL. Oh, I have my concealed carry license. Sig 365 with a Lima laser sight and manual safety. 12 round mags. I actually REALLY have it on me. Always. I’ll probably never use it. I amounted to more by getting an education, working my ass of and not being a gang banger (or fake gangbanger) piece of shit. Good day sir!
Pop smoke had a great voice. With all this new crappy rap coming out, he would have easily been that new guy head and shoulders above everyone else. Such a terrible violent death for a young 20 year old man. The world needs to do better
When will black people stop killing each other for scraps? The real enemy is the corrupt racist government
Of course its never the black man who killed his fellow black man its the white mans faults keep blame the cracker for all of your problem
You have no reading comprehension skills and just wanted to come here to spit racist bullshit. Well here’s one for you , go fuck your mother’s sister.
You act like his mother and his mother’s sister somehow met. SMH. Less credit please.
rolex watches are like $60k each. outrageous.
No Evan. They aren’t. A Submariner can cost as low as $8K. You are the biggest wannabe know it all on this site. You can get the gold and steel SkyDweller for under $20. Dumb dumb. They have a website. Jackass.
i saw it on their website someone must be lying to me.
30 years as adults theyll be out in 15-20 yet all gotta be served adult facility immediatly. For starters teen or no teen you cant do the time dont do the crime (rocketpower) 2 you deserve 40 for killing 20 for armed robbery n hostage taking and 10 years for selling a rolex for 2k only way possible is it was the cheapest of cheap rolexes for 10k n because he bust down it it lost value. Other than that 2k for a rolex if legit split 4-5 ppl so yall all getting 30 yrs of hell for 400-500 dollars so 20 dollars a yr was it worth it . give em tay k time no cap. Pity to them n pop smokes folks. Folks gotta realize music is called entertainment rappers are just poets whom talk on beat that happen to be actors as well for come on now 90% of em cappin and its a persona.
Damn, I see the suburb boys are alive and well in this comment section. talking straight out their asses as always
Yeah feel cool you support criminals the whole time crying about criminals treating you like shit … fucking pussy ass babies
So 5 lives are $2,000 to these clowns? That’s $400 per life. Wtf is wrong with these dumbass children?!?!
Pop smoke asked for it for being tough and then posting his address
Asked for it? Nobody asked to be killed at home for 2k. This type of thinking is the reason shit wont stop. If they did it, their lives are over…was it fucking worth it?
Pop Smoke never asked for any of this.He was only 20 years of age and just living life. 20 years of age and just having fun. No one deserves to be killed over something they earned. Those boys (little killers) parents should be prosecuted as well because why were they out at that time of night? The 20 year old who thought it was cool to stay in the car while the little teens commit a murder would be also tried for murder.
You make it sound like he wasn’t claiming to be in a street gang, questioned by the police and saying “I know how to shoot, I know how to fight” etc. he may not have asked for it, he sure did invite it though. In L.A. that cosplay blood and Crip shit elsewhere will get you shot. He could have lied down and handed over everything.
this is the results of being raised by a “strong single” mother. yall gon get enough of holding these kids from fathers or wait till they get out of control, do better