Corey Walker, 24, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of robbery in connection with the 2020 killing of rapper Pop Smoke. The plea deal, reached Wednesday, spares Walker a trial on a murder charge that was set to begin Thursday. He will be sentenced to 29 years in prison at a later date.
Walker was the only adult charged in the case, alongside three juveniles, including a then-15-year-old gunman. All have already secured separate plea agreements. Walker was accused of leading the group to the rented Hollywood Hills mansion where Pop Smoke, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed on February 19, 2020, during a four-day trip to Los Angeles. A 911 call reported armed intruders inside the home, authorities said.
The robbers allegedly discovered the address after Pop Smoke shared a social media post featuring a gift bag with the location visible. The rapper was in the shower when masked intruders confronted him. According to court testimony, the 15-year-old assailant pistol-whipped Pop Smoke before shooting him three times in the back. The attackers stole his diamond-studded Rolex watch and later sold it for $2,000.
Pop Smoke, a Brooklyn native, rose to fame in 2018 with his breakout hit “Welcome to the Party,” which gained further popularity when Nicki Minaj featured on a remix. His posthumous album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, solidified his legacy in hip-hop.
Source: Swifteradio.com
