The rap community was left in shock following the tragic death of young rapper XXXTentacion in 2018. He was robbed and fatally shot in Florida, USA, at the age of just 20. Now, almost five years after the incident, three men have been convicted for the crime.
According to US media, the three defendants, aged 24, 26, and 28, have been found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery by a unanimous jury. The severity of the penalty is yet to be determined, with the sentence set to be announced on April 6th. The men face the possibility of life imprisonment.
At the time of the attack, the rapper, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was visiting a motorcycle shop in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He was in his black BMW i8 and about to leave when two hooded men approached him. One of the men is reported to have fired the fatal shots before the suspects fled in a dark SUV.
Initially, the criminals were able to evade capture, taking around $50,000 in cash with them. However, they were later caught by police. A witness heard three shots and saw the rapper dying in his car as they drove past the scene.
The rapper gained popularity in the music industry in 2014 and, with his debut album “17,” he rose to fame on the Soundcloud scene. A little later, his album “?,” reached the top of the Billboard charts.
The trial saw the rapper’s mother in attendance, and the verdict may provide some form of closure for his family, friends, and fans who have been mourning his loss since his tragic death.
The conviction sends a clear message that those who commit violent crimes will be held accountable for their actions, no matter how long it takes. The hope is that such a verdict will help to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
