Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke was gunned down by a 15-year-old shooter who was with a group of teens that had their eyes set on stealing his diamond watch.
The shocking details were revealed by a detective with the LAPD who testified during a preliminary hearing in the murder trial of those charged with killing performer.
The star, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, 20, was killed in a suspected home invasion at a Hollywood Hills home he had rented by a group of masked men at around 4.30am last February.
In July, two men and two teenagers were charged with his killing.
Pop Smoke was shot at a Hollywood Hills home at about in February 2020
Authorities say four suspects wearing ski masks forced their way into the home and opened fire on Pop Smoke. Medics are seen carting the victim to an ambulance that transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead in February 2020
The teen who is said to have pulled the trigger and the youngest of the four defendants who is now facing murder and robbery charges in the case and is alleged to have admitted his role in the murder in an interview recorded with a cellmate at a juvenile detention center last May.
‘He admitted that he shot the victim three times with a Baretta 9mm,’ LAPD Det. Carlos Camacho testified on Friday at a preliminary hearing.
‘They got into a fight, and he shot him three times,’ Camacho detailed referring to the recorded jail interview. ‘He said he shot him on the back.’
The 15-year-old ‘admitted that they asked for the jewelry’ and had ‘a confrontation’ with Pop Smoke the detective recounted.
The apparent home invasion unfolded at about 4.30am. Pop Smoke was reportedly renting from Real Housewives star Teddi Mellencamp and her husband
Pop Smoke shared a video on his Facebook Story hours before the shooting which featured the exact address of the home where it took place
All four defendants were members of the same street gang and learned of Pop Smoke’s whereabouts from his Instagram account.
They were able to see the address of the rapper’s Airbnb on a gift bag label and saw that he had stack of cash with him in one photo.
The information was revealed at a hearing for suspect, Corey Walker, 20, who is the sole adult defendant in the high-profile prosecution. Walker has pleaded not guilty.
If convicted as charged, Walker would be eligible for the death penalty, the Los Angeles County district attorney said.
During the hearing, Det Camacho revealed how Walker was also caught on a secretly recorded jailhouse interview where he allegedly confessed to his role to a different informant, to the killing.
Hours before he was killed Pop Smoke shared three photos of himself outside the home on Instagram. In two of the photos (above) the rapper is seen posing with Louis Vuitton luggage next to the same white Range Rover that was parked in the driveway when medics arrived
In the third photo, Pop Smoke is sitting in the driver’s seat of the SUV next to his friend Mike Dee, who is holding a massive stack of cash
In the recorded conversation, Walker admitted how the group used ski masks and a police scanner in an attempt to avoid being caught.
‘He said that when the individuals got inside, the suspects confronted (Pop Smoke), who was in the shower naked,’ Camacho testified.
At one point, it appeared Pop Smoke was complying with the demands to hand over the jewelry that he was still wearing but the rapper fought back and ‘rushed’ the intruders.
The rapper was then pistol whipped before the 15-year-old is alleged to have shot him in the chest, according to Walker’s account.
Public testimony began in the case on Thursday as two LAPD detectives gave their account of what happened.
This aerial photo taken from video provided by Fox11 News KTTV-TV shows the Hollywood Hills home where Pop Smoke was shot dead
The rapper was considered a rising star and his death shocked the rap music world
Det. Christian Carrasco testified how a woman who was with Pop Smoke in the bedroom of the rented home, saw a group of men storm through curtains from a balcony that was accessible via a staircase at the back of the ouse.
One of the men allegedly put a gun to her head shouting, ‘Shut the f*** up. Do you want to die?’
‘She heard a struggle coming from the shower area and heard Mr. Jackson screaming. Mr. Jackson ran out of the bathroom and then she heard a loud pop and heard Mr. Jackson fall to the ground,’ the detective said.
Pop Smoke was rising talent in the rap music world and was only weeks away from finishing off his debut album.
Although he initially survived the shooting, his condition quickly worsened in hospital and was unable to be saved.
The star, whose real name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, 20, later died in hospital
Aside from Walker, 19-year-old Keandre Rodgers has also been charged with murder by the Los Angeles County district attorney.
The charges carry the special circumstance allegation that the murder occurred during the commission of a robbery and a burglary, making them eligible for the death penalty.
Two teens were each charged with one count of murder and robbery in juvenile court.
Walker and Rodgers face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged.
A decision on whether to seek capital punishment will be made at a later date.
Pop Smoke is wearing a Louis Vuitton look before the Louis Vuitton AW20 Men Show on January 16, 2020 in Paris, France