Pop Smoke’s murder suspect, Corey Walker, has accepted a plea deal from prosecutors, bringing an end to almost five years of prosecution, but the late rapper’s mom remains heartbroken.
The plea deal will see Walker serve 29 years in jail, with his sentencing hearing slated for February 21, 2025.
Pop Smoke, real name Bashar Barakah Jackson, died on February 19, 2020, after hooded persons broke into the apartment he was staying in and shot him after an altercation.
On Wednesday, Corey Walker, 24, the only adult charged with Pop Smoke’s murder, reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
Walker was accused of leading three juveniles to the rented Airbnb apartment the rapper was staying in on the morning of the shooting.
Walker pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery with gun and gang enhancements and will be sentenced on February 21. He is expected to serve a 29-year jail term after his plea deal.
According to Rolling Stone, prosecutors dropped a murder charge under the plea deal and added a new voluntary manslaughter charge on Wednesday. The newly added charge cites aggravating factors, including premeditation and extreme cruelty.
Walker also pleaded guilty to the related robbery of a woman present in the apartment.
Prosecutors stated that the manslaughter and robbery convictions each come with an extra two-year sentence, which will run alongside the 29-year term.
The plea deal prevented a jury trial that was set to begin this week in downtown Los Angeles.
The prosecutors also said Walker and his crew targeted Pop Smoke, 20, after he flaunted cash, a thick gold chain, and a diamond-encrusted watch on social media the day before.
