XXXTENTACION’s murder trial is well under way, and a fan has now explained why he snapped a photo of the late rapper after he was fatally shot and posted it to social media.
On Tuesday (February 14), day six of XXXTENTACION’s murder trial, a fan named Scott Barbieux was called to the stand to recount the events that led him to photograph the late rapper after he was shot and killed.
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According to Barbieux, he and his ex-girlfriend were window shopping at RIVA Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida when he witnessed XXX getting robbed and ultimately murdered.
Following the incident, Barbieux testified that he checked on the “Look at Me!” recording artist — saw the bullet wounds and assumed him dead — before taking a photo and posting it to Snapchat.
During his testimony, Barbieux proceeded to tell Prosecutor Pascale Achille that he took the snap because he was a huge fan of XXXTENTACION. Though, he was not in possession of the photo for long as investigators immediately took his phone from him at the scene of the crime.
“Do you recall taking a photograph with your phone of Mr. Onfroy after he was shot and seated in his vehicle?” Achille asked Barbieux.
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“Yes,” Barbieux replied.
“Why did you do that?” asked Achille.
“Because I was a big fan of his and I wanted to have a photo to remember that forever,” Barbieux replied.
“Did that photograph, did you then upload it?” Achille asked.
“It was on Snapchat, yes,” confirmed Barbieux.
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Prior to the incident, Barbieux admitted that he crossed paths with the “Hope” rapper as he exited the motorcycle shop but was denied when he asked for a photo-op. “Hey X let me get a photo — but he just ignored me and got in his car,” Barbieux testified. “He wasn’t in a good mood. You could tell by the way he came out of the door,” he added, detailing the rapper’s abrupt exit.
Later on, during the defense’s cross-examination, Barbieux testified that he checked on the body and realized the rapper had passed away. Defense attorney Mauricio Padilla then asked Barbieux if he received compensation for the image, to which he replied: “No.”
Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams and Trayvon Newsome are accused of robbing and killing XXXTENTACION outside RIVA Motorsports in South Florida, with Boatwright accused of firing the fatal shots. In August of last year, Robert Allen, who was also involved in the deadly shooting, pleaded guilty and is currently testifying against his codefendants in hopes of a lighter sentence.
“[Allen] pleaded guilty to a lesser included offense of second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. He still faces a life sentence. Obviously, we are hoping for better than that. But his sentence is deferred and it is likely he will be called as a witness in the case against the other three co-defendants,” Allen’s attorney Jim Lewis explained.
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“Mr. Allen’s role was much less than the other three involved. It was always kind of contemplated that the State was looking to use him as a witness in the case.”
If convicted, the three suspects on trial could face life in prison. Authorities believe Boatwright was the assailant who ultimately fired the fatal shots at XXXTENTACION on June 18, 2018 in an armed robbery. They got away with $50,000 in a Louis Vuitton bag that X had just withdrawn.
