Pop Smoke, the Brooklyn rapper born Bashar Barakah Jackson, was murdered on February 19, 2020, during a home invasion robbery at a rented house in the Hollywood Hills. Four people were charged: one adult, Corey Walker, and three juveniles whose names remain sealed. A 15-year-old admitted to firing the shots that killed Jackson. Walker, described by prosecutors as the ringleader, was sentenced to 29 years in state prison in February 2025 after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery.
What Happened That Morning
Around 4:30 a.m., masked suspects broke into a home on Hercules Drive in the Mount Olympus neighborhood where Jackson was staying. At least one carried a handgun. The intruders confronted people inside, held a gun to a woman’s head, and shot Jackson in the chest. He was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and pronounced dead. The 911 call reached police through an unusual route: someone inside the house called a contact on the East Coast, who then dialed 911.
The suspects took a diamond-studded Rolex from Jackson. According to later court testimony, they sold it for $2,000.
How the Robbers Found Him
The robbery was not random. Hours before the break-in, Jackson had posted an Instagram video showing gift bags from the fashion brand Amiri. A delivery label on one of the bags clearly displayed the Hollywood Hills address of the house where he was staying. Other posts showed the home’s exterior. Investigators concluded those posts led the suspects straight to the door.
The Shooter: A 15-Year-Old
The person who actually shot Pop Smoke was 15 years old at the time. In May 2023, he admitted to first-degree murder and home invasion robbery, along with an allegation that he personally discharged a firearm. Court testimony revealed he shot Jackson three times with a Beretta 9-millimeter handgun. He is expected to remain in a juvenile facility until age 25. Because a judge sealed the juvenile defendants’ names, he has not been publicly identified.
Corey Walker, the Adult Ringleader
Corey Walker was 19 at the time of the killing and the only adult defendant charged in the case. Prosecutors called him the “mastermind ringleader” who planned the robbery, drove the group to the house, and supplied weapons to the minors.
He was originally charged with murder with a special circumstance allegation that the killing occurred during a robbery and burglary, which made him eligible for the death penalty or life without parole.1Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Four Charged With Murder of Rap Artist Pop Smoke In July 2021, District Attorney George Gascón’s office announced it would not seek the death penalty.
Walker’s case moved slowly for nearly five years. On February 5, 2025, he accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of home invasion robbery with firearm and gang enhancements. The murder charge was dropped. On February 21, 2025, he was sentenced to 29 years in state prison. Walker addressed the court and said he wanted to “sincerely apologize for my unforgivable actions, although there’s no apology that amounts to the taking of someone’s life.”
The Other Two Juvenile Defendants
A second juvenile, who was 17 at the time of the killing, was the first to admit guilt. In April 2023 he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery and was sentenced to four years and two months in a Secure Youth Treatment Facility, with the possibility of remaining in juvenile custody until age 25.
A third juvenile admitted only to a charge of home invasion robbery. None of the three juveniles has been named publicly.
A separate person, Keandre Rodgers, was initially charged as an adult but was transferred to juvenile court, which is how the case ended with one adult and three juvenile defendants.
Pop Smoke’s Family Response
Pop Smoke’s mother, Audrey Jackson, did not attend Walker’s sentencing hearing. She had a gala that evening to celebrate her son’s life and legacy. She called the plea deal unfair. Through the prosecutor, the family declined to submit a formal victim impact statement, saying the prospect of putting their grief into words was “insurmountable.”
In a statement afterward, Audrey Jackson said: “It’s over for everybody except for me. This never ends for me. And that’s unfair. I’m grateful that the culprits were caught. I appreciate they got justice to the fullest extent of the law. But my life doesn’t change. I still don’t have my son.”