XXXTentacion Cause of Death: Three men jailed for life over Murder of US Rapper
In connection with the murder of American rapper XXXTentacion, three men were given life sentences. The 20-year-old musician, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was shot and killed outside a Florida motorcycle store in 2018 while being robbed.
Following a month-long trial, Trayvon Newsome, 24, Michael Boatwright, 28, and Dedrick Williams, 26, were found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery.
Although Florida has a death penalty law, no one was prosecuted for it. As each offender appeared in court to get handcuffs, they exhibited no emotion.
With a companion, XXXTentacion had just walked out of a motorcycle store when an SUV swerved in front of them, blocking their BMW.
While driving, he was shot many times by a masked assailant. The group then took a Louis Vuitton bag holding the money he had just withdrawn from the bank and fled the area.
In suburban Fort Lauderdale, surveillance video from inside and outside Riva Motorsports connected Boatwright, Williams, and Newsome to the shooting.
The men’s cellphone film of themselves flaunting fistfuls of $100 bills mere hours after the death was also displayed to the jurors.
Robert Allen, a fourth guy who was a previous friend of the defendants and claimed to have taken part in the heist, pled guilty to second-degree murder last year. His verdict is still pending.
Boatwright was named as the main shooter, and Newsome was charged with being the second. Allen was charged with being inside the SUV while Williams was charged with operating it.
Why Was XXXTentacion Killed?
Allen testified that the men went to the motorcycle store to get a mask for Williams before setting out that day to commit robberies. They decided to make the rapper their target after seeing him there. Williams and Allen entered the store to make sure it was really him.
Then, in accordance with testimony, they returned to the SUV they had leased, waited for XXXTentacion to emerge, and attacked him.
The platinum-selling rising star rapper, whose name is pronounced “Ex ex ex ten-ta-see-YAWN,” addressed problems including discrimination and sadness in his lyrics. He received flak for his bad behavior and several arrests, including allegations that he brutally battered and mistreated his partner.
This story has been edited to correct that jurors asked for the text messages from Boatwright last week, not this week. Associated Press reporter Terry Spencer contributed to this report.
XXXTentacion Death
XXXTentacion was a platinum-selling rising star who tackled issues including prejudice and depression in his songs.
However, he also drew criticism over multiple arrests. Battery charges against him concerning a former girlfriend were dropped following his death.
The rapper has a four-year-old son, Gekyume, who was born seven months after his death.
