Rapper Pop Smoke Killed In L.A. During Home Invasion, Nicki Minaj & Chance The Rapper Pay Tribute

Bashar Barakah Jackson, professionally known as Pop Smoke, was shot and killed during a home invasion at around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19. The successful 20-year-old artist released his sophomore mixtape just last week.

Initial reports describe the fateful incident as a home invasion robbery. Several people have been detained and released though no arrests have been made. The Los Angeles Police Department’s homicide unit is investigating the incident. Several key witnesses were questioned by police on Wednesday morning.

“I am not comfortable calling it a robbery right now,” Robbery Homicide Division apt. Jonathan Tippet stated. “There is a lot of information available. We have some work to do.”

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Prior to the incident on Wednesday, Pop Smoke posted the address of his home to show off gift bags he had received for his mix tape hitting #7 on the Billboard 200 chart on Tuesday. Afterward, he took photos with a friend holding a fortune in bills in the driveway of the home where he was killed.

According to TMZ, two men wearing hoodies and masks broke into the $2.5 million estate around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The men fired multiple shots, killed Pop Smoke, then fled the scene on foot. Shortly afterward, Pop Smoke was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood. The suspects of the crime have not been caught and it is unclear if Pop Smoke was familiar with either of the two.

The up and coming rapper released his first album in July which included his breakout hit, “Welcome to the Party.” The song reached instantaneous success and was remixed by the artists, Nicki Manaj and Skepta. Pop Smoke was also featured on a track with Travis Scott titled “Gatti.”

Many artists have posted tributes for the late rapper on their social media accounts.