Instagram post of PnB Rock may have led to killing, LAPD says

The gunman who killed PnB Rock on the Roscoe’s Home of Hen & Waffles restaurant in South Los Angeles demanded jewellery and different valuables earlier than getting right into a wrestle with the rapper and opening fireplace, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore stated Tuesday.

Moore stated the Monday assault occurred quickly after the rapper was tagged on-line as being on the restaurant, and police are investigating whether or not that’s what prompted the assault.

Rock, 30, whose actual identify was Rakim Allen, had been on the restaurant together with his girlfriend, who had posted a location-tagged photograph in a since-deleted Instagram submit.

He “was together with his household — together with his girlfriend or some type of pal of his — and as they’re there, having fun with a easy meal, [he] was brutally attacked by a person who apparently [came] to the situation after a social media posting,” Moore stated.

Police Capt. Kelly Muniz stated a suspect brandished a firearm within the restaurant and demanded gadgets from the sufferer. Sources informed The Instances that Rock was targeted for his jewelry.

Rock was shot virtually instantly by the assailant in the course of the theft, Muniz stated.

“He shot the sufferer and ran out the aspect door to a getaway automotive after which fled the parking zone,” she stated.

Muniz stated the sufferer was taken to a hospital and pronounced useless at 1:59 p.m.

In accordance with a legislation enforcement supply, Los Angeles Police Division investigators are inspecting safety video from contained in the restaurant to establish the shooter. Additionally they are checking surrounding companies to see whether or not safety techniques captured any photographs of the assailant leaving on foot or in a car.

Investigators had been processing proof Monday evening, Muniz stated. She declined to touch upon what was recovered.

Rock was born Dec. 9, 1991, in Philadelphia. He informed Paper journal he was impressed to make music at age 19 after listening to Drake’s decade-defining album “Take Care.”

Rock’s skill to mix melodies together with his rapping made him a pure match for hip-hop’s subsequent evolution. He gained nationwide prominence with the 2015 single “Fleek,” turning the viral Vine video into an anthem for ladies doing up their look throughout the nation. He went on to collaborate with a bevy of artists, together with Ed Sheeran and Likelihood the Rapper on “Cross Me.”

One among his largest moments got here alongside Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci, when the 2 joined forces in 2016 for the victorious anthem “On a regular basis We Lit.” The track peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Sizzling 100, the highest-charting track for both artist.

“It’s like, what do you label your self, if you nonetheless infuse rap into your s—?” he informed Paper Journal in 2017. “Folks can’t say I’m a rapper, however I don’t really feel like I’m a singer both. I’m not hitting tremendous excessive notes and going loopy. I can’t offer you Chris Brown singing. I simply received good melodies.”

“Egocentric” peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Sizzling 100. Rock launched his newest track, “Luv Me Once more,” on Sept. 2.

Roscoe’s issued a statement Monday expressing shock over the killing in its restaurant.

“We’re deeply saddened by the dying of Rakim Hasheem Allen, (often known as PnB Rock), an unbelievable artist in Los Angeles and in every single place,” the chain stated in a post on Instagram.

“His passing represents an unlimited loss to each one among us. Our most heartfelt condolences, ideas, and prayers go to the Allen household at this troublesome time. The security of our workers and company are our utmost precedence. We have now and can proceed to maintain our administrative center as secure as doable.”

Rock’s dying comes as authorities say they’re up in opposition to a rising trend of “follow home” robberies and different violent incidents.

In February 2020, Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke, whose actual identify was Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed during a home invasion within the Hollywood Hills.

Authorities imagine social media posts, together with one among a black present bag tagged together with his deal with, led the assailants to his location.

The LAPD’s Southeast Neighborhood Police Station, which covers the world the place Monday’s taking pictures occurred, has seen 34 homicides this 12 months by way of Sept. 3, in contrast with 35 over the identical interval final 12 months.

The statistics additionally famous a 25.2% enhance in robberies throughout that interval, from 373 to 467.

Rock spoke about prior theft makes an attempt in Los Angeles throughout a Sept. 2 episode of the podcast “Off the Report with DJ Akademiks.”

The rapper stated he was out together with his girlfriend and daughter on Fairfax Avenue “mid-pandemic” when folks tried to rob him.

“The place I’m from, we like sneaky criminals,” Rock stated. “In L.A. … they daring.”

Rock and the host spoke about how robberies targeting rappers gave the impression to be changing into extra widespread.

“I by no means received robbed, ever in my life,” Rock stated. “I ain’t gonna say by no means as a result of I don’t like saying by no means. I’m not superstitious, however I haven’t been robbed.”

“That’s why I really feel like L.A.’s spooky, man,” Akademiks stated. “It’s simply so daring. I’m seeing mad movies, like they don’t even do it at evening. Like evening possibly, however broad daylight, that’s after they actually do it.”

Rock stated that after his oldest brother was killed, he modified — changing into extra on edge and acutely aware of how abruptly a scenario may flip lethal.

“It’s simply been one thing in me that simply let me know, like this s— actual life,” Rock stated. “I executed seen folks die. I executed been round folks that died…. Anyone can die.”

Some neighborhood activists expressed shock over the killing.

“I need to see the neighborhood heal. There needs to be a extra complete technique to make it clear that taking materials gadgets like an costly watch will not be value greater than a life,” stated Skipp Townsend, a longtime gang interventionist in L.A.

He stated the gunman may have killed so many individuals within the lunch crowd.

“This occurred whereas he was truly eating, and that’s really tragic,” Townsend stated. “Arrests don’t cease the violence. Arrests don’t carry closure to households. We have to do a long-term technique that stops somebody contemplating such acts.”