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 party at a home in Hollywood Hills when two men wearing hoods and masks broke in at around 4.30am local time, TMZ reported.
The suspects fired multiple shots, at least one of which struck Pop Smoke and left him critically injured.
The men then fled on foot and are still at large as of 7.45am.
It is unclear whether they’ve been identified by authorities or what their motive may have been in the shooting.
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
First responders with the Los Angeles Fire Department were filmed rolling Pop Smoke out of the home on a stretcher.
He was transported by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood, where he was pronounced dead.
One man was taken into custody immediately after the shooting but he was released after police determined he was not involved.
Pop Smoke, a rising star on the rap scene, released his debut mixtape Meet the Woo last summer. The lead single on that album, Welcome to the Party, reached number five on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and was remixed by Nicki Minaj.
He also featured on the hit song Gatti with JackBoys and Travis Scott.
Minutes after news of the shooting broke, 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 suspects – but law enforcement sources have not said if they think there is a connection.
Pop Smoke, a rising star on the rap scene, released his debut mixtape Meet the Woo last July
Minutes after news of the shooting broke, 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 suspects
The house where the attack took place is owned by actor and producer Edwin Arroyave, the husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp.
Arroyave owns several homes in the Los Angeles area, and TMZ speculated that Pop Smoke may have been renting the property on Hercules Drive.
This is a developing story.
The house where the attack took place is owned by actor and producer Edwin Arroyave, the husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp (pictured together)