20 March 2023 , 17:50
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Three men have been found guilty of murdering rapper XXXTentacion following a fatal shooting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2018.
A jury convicted Michael Boatwright, 28, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24, following more than a week of deliberations today.
XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was just 20-years-old when he was shot dead in his BMW while leaving RIVA Motorsports motorcycle shop on June 18 almost five years ago.
His sportscar was blocked by an SUV when pulling out of the car park before he and a pal were "ambushed by armed robbers", the Broward County Sheriff's Office said at the time.
One of the gunmen repeatedly shot the musician and the assailants grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag from the car with $50,000 (£40,700) inside before escaping in the SUV, authorities said.
XXXTentacion trial begins as three charged with rapper's murder in Florida
XXXtentacion was killed almost five years ago (Larry Marano/REX/Shutterstock)Boatwright, Williams and Newsome were each found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in Broward County court. The first-degree murder charges come with life sentences, which they will receive at a later date.
They had all pleaded not guilty.
The defendants showed little emotion as each stood and was handcuffed by a bailiff, AP reports.
A fourth person, 25-year-old Robert Allen, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year and testified for the prosecution against the other three.
Boatwright was accused of being the shooter, while his friend, Newsome, was accused of being the other gunman. Williams was accused of being the driver.
Surveillance video was played in the court and showed the attack unfold, according to AP.
He was just 20-years-old when he diedThe defence had tried to cast doubt on Allen's testimony and said police had failed to investigate XXXTentacion's feud with rapper Drake.
Prosecutors insisted there was no evidence linking Drake to the shooting.
When the trial began, jurors heard theories of the shooting which prosecutors described as a robbery gone awry.
Prosecutor Pascale Achille told jurors Boatwright, Newsome, Williams and Allen, set out that day to commit armed robberies.
The court head how Allen and Williams went inside the motorcycle shop to buy masks.
Leonard Kerr told the court how two men jumped out with guns (Amy Beth Bennett/AP/REX/Shutterstock)XXXTentacion's friend Leonard Kerr, who was in the BWM with the rapper, also told the court how two men jumped out with guns. He said the taller man pointed his weapon at him and told him not to get out of the car, punctuating with strong language.
He told the court the other man was trying to pull the rapper’s gold chain from his neck. Kerr said he could hear XXXTentacion asking, "What’s this for?".
At that point, Kerr said, he decided to escape, pushing the button that opened the passenger door. "If I run, I can get shot, but I can live. If I sit...." he said.
Kerr said when he looked back, the taller man was pointing his gun at XXXTentacion, and he said he heard at least two loud bangs.