A household buddy of the rapper XXXTentacion broke down Tuesday (Feb. 7) as he instructed jurors how he and the rapper have been ambushed by armed robbers as they drove away from a motorbike store, how he fled in worry after which heard the gunshots that killed the rising star.
Leonard Kerr’s testimony highlighted the opening day within the trial of three males accused of fatally capturing XXXTentacion on June 18, 2018, inside his BMW sports activities automotive, which had been blocked by an SUV as Kerr and the rapper pulled out of the Riva Motorsports’ car parking zone close to Fort Lauderdale.
Two males jumped out with weapons, Kerr stated. He stated the taller man pointed his weapon at him and instructed him to not get out of the automotive, punctuating his command with a curse phrase. The opposite man was making an attempt to drag the rapper’s gold chain from his neck. Kerr stated he might hear XXXTentacion asking, “What’s this for?” At that time, Kerr stated, he determined to flee, pushing the button that opened the passenger door.
“If I run, I can get shot, however I can reside. If I sit….” Kerr stated, his voicing trailing off till he stopped to regain his composure.
Kerr stated when he appeared again, the taller man was pointing his gun at XXXTentacion, and he stated he heard not less than two loud bangs. The lads then obtained again into the SUV and sped off, taking with them the $50,000 the rapper had in his designer bag.
Michael Boatwright, 28, is accused of being the shooter, whereas his buddy, Trayon Newsome, 24, is accused of being the opposite gunman. Dedrick Williams, 26, is accused of being the driving force. They might all obtain life sentences if convicted of first-degree homicide. A fourth man who prosecutors say was within the SUV, 26-year-old Robert Allen, pleaded responsible final 12 months to second-degree homicide and is ready to testify in opposition to his former associates.
Throughout opening statements earlier Tuesday, the jurors heard divergent theories in regards to the capturing. A theft gone awry, in keeping with prosecutors. In line with the protection, it might have been a feud between XXXTentacion and the megastar Drake, however they are saying detectives refused to analyze that chance.
Prosecutor Pascale Achille instructed jurors that Boatwright, Newsome, Williams and Allen, set out that day to commit armed robberies. Allen and Williams went contained in the motorbike store to purchase masks, she stated.
There, they occurred upon XXXTentacion, who, in keeping with Kerr, had the $50,000 he had simply gotten from the financial institution hanging out of his bag. The pair acknowledged him, and the group seized upon the chance, deciding to rob him as he left, Achille stated. Boatwright shot him a number of instances “with none provocation,” she stated.
To various levels, the defendants are linked to the capturing by surveillance video and cellphone places, and all are implicated by Allen’s anticipated testimony, Achille stated. Then there are the social media photographs of a number of the males flashing the cash posted that evening, she stated.
“They go on social media and begin bragging that they’ve this inflow of money,” Achille stated. “They flash it prefer it’s Christmas Day.”
To the boys’s attorneys, the defendants are victims of Robert Allen’s lies and the failure of detectives to analyze XXXTentacion’s feud with Drake — XXXTentacion as soon as stated on social media that if he ever wound up lifeless, the Canadian rapper can be the trigger. He later retracted that. One other rapper had additionally made threats in opposition to XXXTentacion.
They stated that with the rapper’s slaying coming simply 4 months after the slaying of 17 individuals at close by Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive Faculty in Parkland, the Broward Sheriff’s Workplace was below excessive political strain to unravel the case shortly.
“For Broward County, for everybody concerned, this was a nightmare,” stated Mauricio Padilla, Williams’ lawyer.
That’s why they wished no half with investigating a star, he stated.
Prosecutors say there is no such thing as a proof linking Drake to the capturing, and Williams is clearly seen within the retailer’s surveillance video, recognizable by his distinctive facial tattoos. He was additionally recognized by one of many clerks. Padilla conceded Williams was current within the retailer however didn’t say how he would clarify that.
Joseph Kimok, Boatwright’s lawyer, additionally pointed the finger at a 3rd man because the doable shooter — a buddy Williams was seen speaking to contained in the motorbike retailer simply earlier than the capturing who has the identical construct as his shopper. He alluded that the buddy might have gotten into the SUV Williams was driving outdoors the view of surveillance cameras. He stated the proof will present that Boatwright was asleep on the residence he shared along with his grandmother on the time of the capturing.
“At no level (within the surveillance movies) will you see Mr. Boatwright, as a result of he wasn’t there,” Kimok stated.
Sure, a cellphone linked to him was close to the shop — however that was a neighborhood cellphone utilized by a number of males, he stated. And sure, he “very stupidly posed” with cash that evening — however that cash was Allen’s, not Boatwright’s, Kimok stated.
Newsome’s lawyer additionally denied that his shopper was current.
The sufferer (born Jahseh Onfroy) was a platinum-selling rising star who tackled points together with prejudice and despair in his songs. He additionally drew criticism over dangerous habits and a number of arrests, together with fees that he severely beat and abused his girlfriend.
