| Murder of Pop Smoke | |
|---|---|
 Map of the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles | |
| Location | Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California |
| Date | February 19, 2020; 5 years ago (2020-02-19) c. 4:30 a.m.[1] (PST) |
| Target | Bashar Barakah Jackson,a.k.a. Pop Smoke |
Attack type | Murder byshooting,home invasion |
| Deaths | Bashar Barakah Jackson,a.k.a. Pop Smoke |
| Motive | Robbery |
| Accused | Shooter: Unnamed 15-year old Accomplices:
|
| Convicted | Convicted as an accomplice: Unnamed 17-year old Corey Walker Other convictions: Unnamed 15-year old and unnamed 16 year-old entered guilty plea agreements as well. |
| Verdict | 17-year old: Pleaded guilty Corey Walker: Pleaded guilty 15-year old: Pleaded guilty 16-year old: Pleaded guilty |
| Convictions |
|
| Sentence | 17-year old: 4 years and 2 months injuvenile detention[3] |
Corey Walker: 29 years in prison.[4] | |
On February 19, 2020, Bashar Barakah Jackson, better known asPop Smoke, was renting a house throughAirbnb owned byThe Real Housewives starTeddi Mellencamp and her husband, Edwin Arroyave, inHollywood Hills, California.[5][6] At around 4:30 a.m., five hooded men, including one wearing a ski mask and carrying a handgun, broke into the house through a second-story balcony.[7][8][9] The intruders held a gun to a woman's head and threatened to kill her.[10][6] Shortly thereafter, the woman heard the men shoot Jackson three times after an altercation.[6]
TheLAPD received news of the home invasion from a call from theEast Coast.[11] Police arrived at the home six minutes later and found Jackson with multiple gunshot wounds.[12] He was rushed toCedars-Sinai Medical Center, where doctors performed athoracotomy on the left side of his chest.[13] A few hours later, he was pronounced dead.[14][15] He was 20 years old. On February 21, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner revealed that the cause of Jackson's death was a gunshot wound to the chest.[7]
The LAPD at first suspected that Jackson's death was gang-related, as he was tied to theCrips.[14] However, the LAPD later believed his death was the consequence of a home robbery gone wrong.[16] It was believed the intruders stole Jackson's gold watch and other jewelry before running away from the house.[10] In May 2021, a 15-year-old, the youngest of the four intruders, allegedly admitted to killing Jackson over a diamond-studdedRolex during a recorded interview with a cellmate at a juvenile detention center.[17] The 15-year-old told the cellmate that Jackson at first complied with their requests for jewelry but then tried to fight them, and a confrontation broke out in which Jackson waspistol-whipped and shot with aBeretta M92.[18] The intruders made off with his Rolex, which they sold for $2,000.[17][18]
The day before his murder, Jackson and friend Michael Durodola[19] posted several images on social media, including one in which Mellencamp's home address can be seen in the background.[14] The rapper also posted a story on Instagram and Facebook of gifts he had received.[14] One showed the house's full address on the packaging, giving out its location.[14]
Jackson's body was originally planned to be buried at theCypress Hills Cemetery but was later changed toGreen-Wood Cemetery.[20] Family, friends, and fans of Jackson gathered in his hometown of Canarsie, Brooklyn, to show their respects.[21] His casket was pulled in a horse-drawn carriage and was surrounded by glass windows and white curtains.[21][22] On September 11, 2021, it was discovered that his grave site was vandalized, with the headstone smashed.[23]
On July 9, 2020, three adult men and two minors were arrested for the murder of the rapper.[24] One of the adult suspects has been charged with murder with a special circumstance that alleged the killing was committed "during the commission of a robbery and a burglary", and another charged with attempted murder.[25][26] The two juveniles were charged with murder and robbery in juvenile court.[26][25]
On 4 February 2025, Corey Walker, the only adult who was being tried for Jackson's murder, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of home invasion.[27] On 21 February 2025, Corey Walker received a 29 year prison sentence.[28] During his sentencing, Walker apologized to Jackson's family, stating, among other things, that "there's no apology that amounts to the taking of someone's life," and "today I take responsibility for my dreadful partake in these crimes, and as I begin my road to rehabilitation, I assure you that I will steer clear from negative behavior."[28] The same day,Entertainment Weekly revealed that all of the other three individuals who were being tried for Jackson's murder, all of him were minors aged 15, 16, and 17 years-old, had pled guilty for crimes related to the murder as well, entering separate plea agreements throughjuvenile court.[29][28]
Jackson's parents, Audrey and Greg Jackson, shared memories of their son before saying how gun violence took him away from them.
On February 19th, at 4:00 AM, a gun was used to take my son from me. You know him as Pop Smoke, we called him 'Shar'. Because of gun violence, I'll never see my son run up the front of our steps, taking them two at a time; he won't ever take my hands again and dance with me; he won't come into my room and muscle pose in the mirror. Gun violence destroys families. It must stop.[30]
— Audrey Jackson during a "Gun Violence Destroys Families" public service announcement
Danny Schwartz wrote inThe Ringer that "Pop Smoke conquered New York rap and gave the city the kind of readymade and potentially defining star it hadn't seen in years". He claimed that "in the city, ['Welcome to the Party'] was more omnipresent than hits like 'Old Town Road'."[31]
Jackson's work ethic was widely praised by his peers in the music industry. The executive producer of his posthumous album, 50 Cent, told theNew York Times that Jackson wrote down 50 Cent's advice, whileQuavo added he "felt like [he] was talking to somebody that had been in the game for three years already".[citation needed]