Did these three men murder XXXTentacion just for his chain?
The death of XXXTentacion shocked the world. The rapper was known for his controversial and often violent antics, but nothing could have prepared fans for June 18, 2018, when a group of men robbed and shot him in the driver’s seat of his car.
To make matters worse, onlookers took videos of the aftermath on their phones, meaning footage of XXXTentacion’s body made its way online. It was a harrowing incident, and one that led to an outpouring of support from the hip hop community.
What exactly did these men take from the rapper, though? There’s been some speculation as to what it could be, and it looks as though recent findings have confirmed the truth. Here’s what you need to know.
The murder & aftermath
On the day of XXXTentacion’s murder, it was reported that three men exited an SUV and began firing on the rapper point blank. Several shots were let off, and then one of the men grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000. While the identities of these men were initially unclear, it didn’t take long for Florida police to begin making arrests.
This was because the men were decidedly open about their involvement with the murder with outsiders. Michael Boatwright texted someone shortly after the murder, writing: “Tell my brother I got the money for the new phone,” and attaching a screenshot of a story that said XXXTentacion had been shot.
If that wasn’t incriminating enough, Boatwright’s search history included the phrase “accessory to murder.” Boatwright also posted photos of him handling the $50,000 that was stolen from XXXTentacion. He was arrested a few weeks after the shooting and named the triggerman in the shooting.
The arrests & charges
Dedrick Devonshay Williams of Pompano Beach was the first person to be arrested in relation to the murder. He was taken in two days after the shooting and charged with dangerous and depraved first-degree murder.
A few weeks later, triggerman Boatwright and accomplice Robert Allen were arrested and charged with premeditated first-degree murder. The third accomplice, Trayvon Newsome, was arrested and charged with premeditated first-degree murder in August 2018.
It was eventually determined that Newsome was the other gunman alongside Boatwright, while Williams was the driver of the SUV and Allen was inside the car. Allen proved to be the key to incriminating the other three men. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder (a lesser conviction) and agreed to testify against his associates. Williams, Boatwright, and Newsome were found guilty on all counts.
What was stolen?
In the end, the cash and the Louis Vuitton bag were the only items stolen. His chain and his clothes were left intact, contrary to popular belief, and both were even shown as evidence at the criminal trial. Because the men who robbed him were caught, however, the robbery proved to be pointless.
XXXTentacion’s mother took to Instagram after a verdict in her son’s murder was reached. “You finally got justice Jah,” she wrote alongside a photo of the rapper. She also posted a photo of herself wearing a shirt with his face on it. “I made sure you were present in the room,” she wrote.
A tragic story, to be sure, but unlike so many other cases involving slain rappers, the culprits behind XXXTentacion’s death are behind bars. In the end, justice was served.
