The Shocking Final Sentences: 5 Key Facts About The Pop Smoke Killer And The Case Resolution
The tragic and premature death of rapper Pop Smoke in February 2020 sent shockwaves through the music industry, silencing one of Brooklyn's most exciting new voices at the height of his career. Now, over five years later, the legal saga surrounding the artist's murder has finally reached its definitive conclusion, with the final defendant receiving a significant sentence in early 2024, providing a sense of closure to the late rapper's family and fans.
The case, which involved a botched home invasion robbery at a Hollywood Hills rental home, captivated and frustrated the public for years due to the complex nature of the charges involving both adult and juvenile defendants. The most recent and final major update confirms the fate of the primary individual responsible for the fatal encounter, cementing the official narrative of how the promising life of Bashar Barakah Jackson was cut short.
Bashar Barakah Jackson (Pop Smoke) Biography & Profile
The man known professionally as Pop Smoke was born Bashar Barakah Jackson on July 20, 1999, in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
- Full Name: Bashar Barakah Jackson
- Date of Birth: July 20, 1999
- Hometown: Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity/Heritage: His mother is Jamaican, and his father is Panamanian.
- Career Debut: 2019, with the hit single "Welcome to the Party."
- Musical Impact: Credited as a pioneer and leading figure in popularizing the Brooklyn drill music subgenre.
- Major Works: The mixtapes Meet the Woo (2019) and Meet the Woo 2 (2020), and the posthumous debut album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon (2020).
- Date of Death: February 19, 2020
- Age at Death: 20 years old
Pop Smoke’s raw talent and unique sound quickly propelled him to international fame. He was signed to Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records, and his debut single "Welcome to the Party" became a global summer anthem. His music, particularly the *Meet the Woo* series, defined the sound of Brooklyn drill, making him one of the most influential new artists of his generation. His sudden and violent death occurred just 12 days after the release of his second mixtape, *Meet the Woo 2*.
The Final Sentence: Corey Walker’s 29-Year Prison Term
The most significant and recent judicial update in the Pop Smoke murder case involves Corey Walker, who was the final defendant to be convicted.
Corey Walker, who was 19 at the time of the fatal incident, was the only adult charged in the case to receive a conviction as an adult.
In a Los Angeles County court, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter and two counts of robbery.
On a Friday in February 2024, Corey Walker was officially sentenced to 29 years in state prison.
This plea deal and subsequent sentencing brought a close to the high-profile case. During his court appearance, Walker reportedly expressed remorse and apologized to the family of Bashar Barakah Jackson.
Walker's conviction was pivotal because he was the last of the four individuals charged to face final sentencing, effectively closing the book on the criminal proceedings related to the 2020 Hollywood Hills home invasion that claimed the rapper's life.
The Full Roster of Pop Smoke’s Accomplices and Their Fates
The murder of Pop Smoke was not the act of a single individual but a coordinated home invasion carried out by a group of four people, including two adults and two juveniles at the time of the crime. The motive was a robbery targeting the rapper's possessions, specifically a diamond-encrusted watch that Pop Smoke had inadvertently shown on social media. The legal outcomes for all four defendants have now been determined, highlighting the varied paths to justice in the American legal system.
1. Corey Walker (The Final Adult Conviction)
- Role: Accomplice in the home invasion and robbery.
- Plea/Conviction: Pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of robbery.
- Sentence: 29 years in state prison (Sentenced in February 2024).
2. The Unnamed 17-Year-Old (Juvenile Defendant)
One of the minors involved in the robbery also took a plea deal. This individual was 17 years old at the time of the incident.
- Role: Accomplice in the home invasion and robbery.
- Plea/Conviction: Pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery in 2023.
- Sentence: Four years in juvenile detention.
3. The Unnamed 15-Year-Old (The Shooter)
Perhaps the most disturbing detail of the case is that the actual fatal shot was fired by the youngest member of the group, who was only 15 years old at the time.
- Role: Alleged Shooter.
- Plea/Conviction: Convicted in the juvenile court system.
- Sentence: Released from juvenile detention after serving his time in 2023. This individual reportedly admitted to shooting the rapper during a struggle but was released due to the limitations of the juvenile justice system.
4. Keandre Rodgers (Co-Defendant)
Keandre Rodgers was the second adult initially charged alongside Corey Walker.
- Role: Accomplice in the home invasion and robbery.
- Plea/Conviction: Rodgers was one of the individuals who pleaded guilty to his role in the crime, though the specifics of his final sentence are not as widely reported as Walker's. He was 18 at the time of the murder.
The overall outcome highlights the complexities of prosecuting a high-profile case involving both adult and juvenile defendants, where the individual who fired the fatal shot received the lightest sentence due to their age at the time of the crime, while the older accomplice, Corey Walker, faces the longest term.
The Tragic Context: How a Robbery Turned to Murder
The death of Pop Smoke was a consequence of a violent, opportunistic robbery. The rapper was staying at a rented home in the Hollywood Hills, a common practice for artists visiting Los Angeles. The attackers tracked his location after he made a critical mistake on social media.
Just hours before the home invasion, Pop Smoke posted a picture on Instagram that showed the address of the Airbnb he was staying in. Crucially, the post also inadvertently displayed a bag containing valuable items, including a diamond-encrusted watch.
The four individuals involved in the murder drove from Southern California to the Hollywood Hills with the express intention of robbing Pop Smoke of his jewelry.
During the home invasion, the 15-year-old shooter confronted Pop Smoke, demanding his jewelry. A struggle ensued, during which the rapper was shot multiple times with a handgun. The group fled the scene with the stolen watch and other items, leaving the critically wounded rapper behind. Pop Smoke was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of sharing personal, high-value location details on social media, a phenomenon known as "location scouting" by criminals. The loss of Bashar Barakah Jackson remains a profound tragedy for the music world, but the final sentencing of Corey Walker provides a definitive legal conclusion to the case, ensuring accountability for the crime.
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