Pop Smoke performs at the Soulfrito Music Festival at Barclays Center on August 30, 2019 in New York City.
Photo by Arik Mazur/Getty Images.
Teenager Confesses to Killing Pop Smoke In 2020
An 18-year-old defendant admitted to the murder of Pop Smoke, and could remain incarcerated until the age of 25.
One of four men charged with the death of drill rapper Pop Smoke has admitted to firing the fatal shot during a Hollywood Hills home invasion in 2020. According to theLos Angeles Times, an 18-year-old defendant, whose identity has been withheld due to being 15 at the time of the shooting, shared his account of the murder on Friday (May 12).
The teenager confessed to the home invasion, alleged discharge of the firearm, and the first-degree murder of Smoke, legal name Bashar Jackson. As the teenager was charged in juvenile court, he has the possibility of remaining incarcerated until 25. The Times says that L.A. County Superior Court Judge J. Christopher told the 18-year-old and his 19-year-old co-defendant, Corey Walker, that the 20-year-old rapper "lost his life over no good reason."
"You have no right to take somebody's life. You have no right to take somebody's property," Smith said.
The confession comes after a 20-year-old man previously confessed to entering the Hollywood Hills residence with the intention of robbing Jackson. In April, Smith sentenced the man, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, to four years and two months in a juvenile facility.
In February 2020, Jackson was on a four-day trip to Los Angeles when his rental home was invaded. Prior to the shooting, the rapper unintentionally revealed his address on Instagram. Jackson was reportedly in the shower when the men entered his bedroom, attacking him and shooting him in the back three times. Jackson’s watch was also stolen during the altercation and later sold for $2,000.
Days before his death, Jackson released his second mixtape Meet the Woo 2, which was followed by posthumous albums Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, and Faith.
