BREAKING: Rapper Pop Smoke, 20, is shot and killed during ‘home invasion robbery’ in Hollywood Hills
- Pop Smoke was shot at a Hollywood Hills home at about 4.30am Wednesday
- Two masked men broke into the home and opened fire on the rapper, TMZ said
- He was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead
- The suspects are still at large and it is unclear if they’ve been identified by police
Rapper Pop Smoke was shot dead in an apparent home invasion robbery early Wednesday morning, officials say.
The 20-year-old artist, whose real name is Bashar Barakah Jackson, was at a home in Hollywood Hills when two masked men broke in at around 4.30am, TMZ reported.
The suspects opened fire on Pop Smoke and left him critically injured before fleeing on foot.
The rapper was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood, where he was pronounced dead.
The suspects are still at large and it is unclear whether they’ve been identified by authorities.
One man was taken into custody immediately after the shooting but he was released after police determined he was not involved.
Rapper Pop Smoke was shot dead in an apparent home invasion robbery in Hollywood Hills early Wednesday morning, officials say
Two masked men broke into the home and opened fire on the rapper. Medics are seen carting him to an ambulance that transported him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead
Pop Smoke, a rising star on the rap scene, released his debut mixtape Meet the Woo last summer and the lead single, Welcome to the Party, reached number five on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
He also featured on the hit song Gatti with JackBoys and Travis Scott.
Minutes after news of the shooting broke, fellow rapper Nicki Minaj posted a photo of Pop Smoke on Instagram, writing: ‘The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Unbelievable. Rest in Peace, Pop.’
The cryptic caption suggests Pop Smoke may have known the attackers. TMZ said law enforcement sources have no suggested any connection.
This is a developing story.