3 convicted of murdering rapper XXXTentacion

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A jury on Monday handed down guilty verdicts for three men charged with killing rapper XXXTentacion during a robbery in 2018.

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The rapper, born Jahseh Onfroy, was shot and killed as he was leaving a South Florida motorcycle shop on June 18, 2018. Authorities subsequently arrested Trayvon Newsome, 24; Dedrick Williams, 26; Michael Boatwright, 27; Robert Allen, 26.

On Monday, jurors found Newsome, Williams and Boatwright guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery charges, WTVJ reported. The verdicts came after Allen pleaded guilty in last year to a charge of second-degree murder, according to WFOR-TV.

Allen testified that he, Boatwright, Newsome and Williams planned to rob people on the day XXXTentacion was shot and that they traveled to RIVA Motorsports to buy a mask for Williams, the Miami New Times reported. Williams spotted XXXTentacion as the rapper was getting out of his BMW sports car to walk into the shop, the newspaper reported.

Later, as XXXTentacion and a friend went to leave RIVA Motorsports, his BMW was blocked by an SUV. Two gunmen jumped out, including one who shot the 20-year-old rapper repeatedly, the AP reported. Authorities said Boatwright and Newsome opened fire on June 18, 2018, while Williams acted as the getaway driver, according to the Miami Herald. Prosecutors said the men snatched a Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000 during the robbery, the newspaper reported.

Newsome, Williams and Boatwright are expected to be handed mandatory life sentences when they appear in court April 6 for a sentencing hearing, the AP and WTVJ reported.

Allen, who is set to be sentenced April 12, also faces a possible life sentence, according to the New Times and the Herald.

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