The world lost Pop Smoke on February 19, 2020 after multiple people broke into the Hollywood Hills home where he was staying and fatally shot him.
New reports suggest Pop Smoke’s passing could be connected to another murder. According to TMZ, Los Angeles law enforcement officials have begun investigating a dead body found inside a barrel.
Apparently, someone discovered Javonnta Murphy, 32, inside the barrel on a Malibu beach. Murphy is said to be the brother of Jaquan Murphy, one of the original suspects in Pop Smoke’s murder, although Jaquan was later cleared.
Police also arrested four other suspects in the Pop Smoke case. In addition to Jaquan Murphy, Keandre D. Rodgers, Corey Walker and two unnamed teenagers faced various charges including first-degree murder.
While authorities cleared Jaquan Murphy of any charges in connection to Pop Smoke’s death, he currently awaits a criminal trial for an unrelated murder in Los Angeles County.
Earlier this year, one underage defendant pleaded guilty to home invasion robbery and received a sentence of four years and two months in a juvenile facility. Another underage defendant admitted to a first-degree murder charge.
Pop Smoke rose to national fame in 2019 with his breakout hit “Welcome to the Party.” Nicki Minaj jumped on the song’s official remix that year. 2020’s Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon album spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
