Rapper Pop Smoke — real name Bashar Jackson — was fatally shot Wednesday morning during a home invasion in Hollywood Hills, California.
Officers responded after someone calling from the East Coast reported that several people, at least one of whom wore a black mask and was armed with a handgun, had entered their friend’s home in Los Angeles shortly before 5 a.m., said LAPD Capt. Steve Lurie.
When officers arrived at the $2.5-million home in the 2000 block of Hercules Drive, they found the 20-year-old rapper with gunshot wounds.
He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Sources familiar with the surveillance video tell TMZ … the video shows at least 4 masked men with hoodies making their way into the house just 10 minutes after people inside the house deadbolted the front doors shut. They also said they did not turn the house alarm on, which made it easier for the home invaders to get inside.
Some speculators believe that Pop Smoke was targeted.
Earlier that day, the rapper was showing off gift bags he had received on an Instagram post, and one had the home’s address.
As for why he was getting gift bags … his mix tape hit #7 on the Billboard 200 chart Tuesday.
There’s also a photo of smoke and a friend showing off a stack of cash.
There were also speculations of Smoke being tied to the Crips and it could be gang-related. Capt. Jonathan Tippet, however, cautioned against ascribing a motive in the slaying given that the investigation is still in its early stages.
Authorities are looking through images from security cameras throughout the neighborhood in search of a possible getaway car. There are locations with license-plate-reader technology in the area that also could help detectives.
“There is a lot of social media information out there. The house is in a neighborhood surrounded by video cameras,” Tippet said. “There is a lot of information available. We have some work to do.”
Law enforcement said there was a party or gathering at the house prior to the shooting.
The Hollywood Hills home is owned by Teddi Mellencamp of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and her husband, Edwin Arroyave, according to property records.
Mellencamp wrote on Instagram:
The rapper’s death came days after his second mixtape, “Meet the Woo 2,” landed at No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 list. His breakthrough mixtape, “Meet the Woo,” released last year, has 280 million streams globally.
Pop Smoke was signed to Republic Records through Victor Victor Worldwide, according to the label.
— The friend who was hanging with Pop Smoke and photographed with him hours before he was killed, Mike Dee, has spoken out about the tragedy.
It seems as if the authorities are accusing Mike Dee of being involved in his friend’s murder, which his is extremely upset and strongly denies.
If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact LAPD (213) 972-2971.
Pop Smoke released an album back in July and one of the songs, “Welcome to the Party,” blew up … it was considered by many the song of the summer. Nicki Minaj did a remix of the song a few months later. He also did a song, “Gatti,” with Travis Scott.
Let us take this time to remember a rising star. Rest in peace.
