As jurors continue to deliberate in the trial of four men accused of the murder and robbery of rapper XXXTentacion, some have started to wonder if Drizzy could be tied to the case. After all, there have been a lot of accusations and rumors in recent years that have been tied to the rapper, including ghostwriting, sneak disses, and faux philanthropy. The homicide investigation seems far from over
Jury selection begins
Jury selection is expected to begin soon in the trial of the death of XXXTentacion tied to Drake. Prosecutors are hoping to have jurors selected by the end of January, but if you’ve received a summons for this case, it’s important to keep in mind that it will take some time before you receive a court date and a chance to serve on the jury.
If you’re a potential juror, you should be sure to check your attendance status online or by phone as early as possible before the trial. If you’re unable to attend, it may be necessary to disqualify yourself from the panel and reschedule for another time.
During jury selection, you’ll be asked to answer questions about the crime and whether you believe in the death penalty. If you’re chosen, you’ll be seated on a panel and have to decide if the defendants are guilty of murder or robbery.
At this point, you’ll also be given a chance to ask any other questions you have about the case. The judge will then take note of your answers and make a decision about who should be chosen to sit on the jury.
You’ll also be required to sign a form to swear that you understand your role in the jury selection process and the rules of the trial. If you’re unsure about your rights and responsibilities, you can contact the courthouse to speak with an attorney.
After the jury has been selected, prosecutors will present evidence and witnesses for them to consider. They’ll have the opportunity to ask each of the defendants questions and hear their opening statements.
Then, the trial will proceed to a verdict and sentencing, where they’ll decide if the defendants are guilty of first-degree murder or armed robbery with a firearm. The judge will then determine how many years each defendant faces in prison.
The prosecutors are expecting to have their case ready for the trial. They’ve compiled an extensive list of possible witnesses, including a number of hip-hop artists. For example, they’ve identified Drake, Quavo, 6ix9ine, and Joe Budden as potential sources of evidence.
Prosecutors say he was killed in a robbery
In a robbery that escalated to a murder, three men allegedly killed rapper XXXTentacion in 2018. He was a platinum-selling singer who tackled issues including prejudice and depression in his songs. The rapper’s real name was Jahseh Onfroy. He had withdrawn $50,000 in cash out of a bank account before he was killed, according to prosecutors.
Onfroy was leaving a motorcycle dealership when he was shot outside by two armed men, according to court records. He was accompanied by a family member, who had been sitting in the passenger seat of his SUV. He had a designer bag filled with money, police said.
One of the robbers fired several times into Onfroy’s vehicle, striking him in the head. The other robber fired from the other side of his car, striking Onfroy in the chest, police said.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Boatwright, Williams and Newsome hatched a plan to rent a vehicle and drive around South Florida just to rob people. They then took pictures and posted them on social media with money they got from the robbery, which they claimed were their own.
But a defense attorney for Boatwright and Newsome claims they weren’t at the scene of the robbery. He also argues that it was Robert Allen who gave them the money they were seen flashing on social media after the robbery.
The three defendants were arrested after surveillance footage and cellphone records linked them to the crime, police say. They are all charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery.
A fourth suspect, who was already on probation and took a plea deal for his role in the robbery, has been set to testify against the defendants. He has a criminal record and a history of violence, including assault and battery.
The defense attorneys dropped a BLOCKBUSTER claim yesterday, suggesting that Drake was not involved in the robbery and killing of XXXTentacion. The claim comes after the defense attorneys argued that investigators and prosecutors made hasty decisions when determining who was guilty of the murder.
Defense says he was killed in a drive-by shooting
A drive-by shooting is a type of crime in which someone fires a gun or other weapon from a moving vehicle at another person or object. Typically, the target is a pedestrian or a driver in a car or SUV.
In this case, the victim was XXXTentacion, a 19-year-old rapper from Florida who was killed in June 2018. He fell victim to a gunshot wound when he was ambushed by two individuals outside a motorcycle shop in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
During the trial, prosecutors accused three men of killing the rapper, but the defense says he was killed in a drive-by shooting. The suspects, Michael Boatwright, Trayvon Newsome and Dedrick Williams, have all pleaded not guilty.
According to the defense, the three men waited in a parked SUV outside the motorcycle shop for XXXTentacion and his friend to leave. Afterward, they followed them inside the store and bought masks before leaving. When they returned to the parking lot, they blocked the exit of XXXTentacion’s BMW.
Prosecutors say Boatwright and Newsome then confronted XXXTentacion, but the rapper didn’t know they were armed robbers. During the confrontation, one of them reached into XXXTentacion’s car and retrieved a Louis Vuitton bag before the shooting began.
Attorneys also said that XXXTentacion and the three gunmen — including Williams — were in a feud online, which might have given them the motivation to kill him. But that wasn’t enough for the defense to get a witness in court, a circuit judge ruled Wednesday.
While the death of XXXTentacion is a tragedy for his family and the rapper’s fans, it is a reminder of how dangerous life can be for at-risk youth. In the case of XXXTentacion, police have found evidence that he had been in gangs and that he was an aspiring drug dealer.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Boatwright and Newsome could face life in prison. But if they are convicted of a lesser offense such as manslaughter, they would face a maximum of 15 years in prison.
A family friend of XXXTentacion broke down Tuesday in court as he told jurors about how the two men ambushed him and killed him. He said the men ordered him to leave the shop, and he responded by saying “wtf is going on?” After that, they fired at him. He was then transported to a hospital but died soon afterward.
Witnesses testify
The death of XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, put the hip-hop world in mourning during 2018. During the investigation, a number of wild conspiracy theories were swirling on social media that alleged rap superstar Drake was behind the slaying.
XXXTentacion was killed outside Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach on June 18, 2018, after two masked gunmen allegedly confronted him in his BMW and shot him multiple times. He was shot in the back of the head and died at the hospital later that day.
A grand jury indicted four men — shooting suspect Michael Boatwright, robbery accomplices Dedrick Williams and Trayvon Newsome and alleged getaway driver Robert Allen — on first-degree murder and armed robbery charges. Each faces life in prison if convicted.
Boatwright, Williams and Newsome have pleaded not guilty in the case. They were arrested at different times after investigators determined they were involved in a robbery that escalated to the killing of XXXTentacion. The slaying was captured on surveillance video from the store and other evidence.
According to reports, a number of rappers have been named as witnesses in the case. Among them are chart-topping artists Drake and Tekashi 69. Others include 600 Breezy, 6ix9ine and members of Migos: Quavo, Offset and the late Takeoff.
Several of the rappers on the list were allegedly involved in the ongoing beef between XXXTentacion and Drake before the singer’s death in 2018. In a long-form podcast interview released on April 24, XXXTentacion described how he and a former cellmate beat up another cellmate, who he referred to as a “f****t” because he wiped the man’s blood off his face with a towel.
The rappers are reportedly on a list submitted by Miami defense attorney Mauricio Padilla, who is representing 27-year-old Dedrick Williams, the alleged getaway driver. Although Padilla is claiming the rappers will testify in the case, they are not obligated to do so.
The list includes several XXXTentacion associates: rapper Tankhead666, who is awaiting trial in a separate Miami murder, and Ski Mask the Slump God (Stokeley Clevon Goulbourne). These all-star rap stars haven’t been called to testify by the courts, but they are listed as potential witnesses by Padilla, a move that could place reasonable doubt on jurors.
