Los Angeles County jurors heard opening statements in the PnB Rock murder trial on Tuesday (July 24). The jury will decide whether Freddie Trone and Tremont Jones were responsible for the late rapper’s 2022 shooting death.
Trone’s son, the alleged shooter, will be tried separately due to his age. He was 17 years old at the time of the deadly incident. According to Rolling Stone, he is scheduled for a competency hearing in juvenile court on Friday (July 26).
Prosecutors claim Jones tipped off Trone to PnB Rock dining at Roscoe’s Chicken ‘N Waffles in South Los Angeles on the day of the shooting. Trone allegedly drove his son to the restaurant and sent the teen inside with a gun to rob the rapper. The gunman fatally shot PnB Rock before fleeing the scene. Trone attempted to torch and ditch the getaway car.
Trone pleaded not guilty to murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony. His attorney conceded he was guilty of accessory after the fact but placed the rest of the blame on Trone’s son.
“You will hear no evidence that he planned this with his son,” Trone’s lawyer Winston McKesson told the jury. “That he instructed his son to do this or he egged him on. They will have evidence that my client did help his son cover this up. We’re not disputing that. What we’re saying is the gunman acted alone.”
Jones pleaded not guilty to robbery, conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm. His lawyer raised questions about the prosecution’s evidence against Jones.
“All of this is guesswork,” Jones’ attorney Davis Haas argued. “All guesswork, and when you can’t put your finger on specific words or specific actions, we call that a finding of not guilty.”
Trone’s wife Shauntel avoided trial by accepting a plea deal. She was charged with accessory after the fact for her role in PnB Rock’s death.