FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida: On Monday, Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome were found guilty of the 2018 killing of rapper XXXTentacion. The young musician was shot outside a motorcycle shop in South Florida during a robbery, which netted the suspects $50,000.
The three men will be sentenced on April 6, and as dictated by Florida law, they will likely receive a life sentence for their first-degree murder convictions.
Throughout the month-long trial, prosecutors provided substantial evidence linking the men to the crime, including surveillance video taken inside and outside the store and cellphone footage of the suspects flashing fistfuls of $100 bills hours after the killing. Additionally, a former friend of the suspects, Robert Allen, testified against them, saying that he participated in the robbery.
The defense attempted to discredit Allen, calling him a liar motivated by a desire to avoid a life sentence. They also argued that detectives and prosecutors had not conducted a thorough investigation and should have considered other potential suspects, including Canadian rap star Drake, as he and XXXTentacion had previously engaged in an online feud.
Boatwright, who was identified as the primary shooter, sent texts to various people, including one about getting a car, in the hours leading up to the shooting. Minutes after the incident, he sent someone a screenshot of a news story reporting XXXTentacion had been shot. Newsome was accused of being the other gunman, while Williams was accused of being the SUV driver, with Allen also inside.
XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was a platinum-selling rising star who addressed issues like prejudice and depression in his music. But he also garnered criticism for his bad behavior and multiple arrests, including charges that he severely beat and abused his girlfriend. Despite the controversy, his death at just 20 years old was a significant loss to the music industry and his fans.
While justice has been served for his murder, it will never bring him back. His passing serves as a tragic reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of making the most of the time we have, no matter how long or short.