On June 18, 2018, Monday, Rapper XXXTentacion was shot dead on one of the streets of Deerfield Beach, 69 kilometers from Miami.
XXXTentacion spoke of his ‘tragic death’ in his instagram video before being killed. “Worst thing comes to worst, I fucking die a tragic death or some shit—and I’m not able to see out my dreams,” he says in one of the videos. “I at least want to know that the kids perceived my message and were able to make something of themselves and able to take my message and use it and turn it into something positive, and to at least have a good life.”
The 20-year-old rapper, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was leaving a motorcycle shop in Fort Lauderdale shortly before 4pm when two men who were tracking him in his last moments in a dark coloured SUV shot, killed him in an apparent robbery. According to TMZ, X was shot inside his vehicle while shopping for a motorcycle at Riva Motorsports. The Florida Rapper was found slumped over in his car after a gunman approached him and opened fire.
Police in Broward County said XXXTentacion, one of the world’s most popular young rappers, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. XXX was transported to Broward Health North as a level 1 trauma patient, where he was listed as comatose. Level 1 trauma describes a patient without a pulse.
To identify the assailants, the police sent images from the video to patrol units. Examining Mr. Williams’s Instagram feed, they found recent pictures of him wearing “the same or similar bright orange sandals.” Employees of the dealership also identified Mr. Williams — a tattoo artist who appears to have ties to the local rap scene — from photographs.
Tattoo artist Dedrick Devonshay Williams, of Pompano Beach, Florida, was arrested during a traffic stop just before 7pm on Wednesday, cops say. He appeared at court on Thursday and charged with first-degree murder without premeditation, a probation violation and for not having a valid driver’s licence. After Williams’ arrest, Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright said homicide detectives also were seeking additional suspects. At the time of his arrest, Williams was on probation until 2021 for grand theft motor vehicle, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. Williams appeared in court Thursday afternoon, where a judge ordered him held without bond. He is scheduled to be back in court Monday for the probation violation.
Investigators said that they were searching for two suspects, at least one of whom shot at Onfroy during an “apparent robbery,” before fleeing in a dark-colored SUV. In that statement, the sheriff’s office also noted it would offer a $3,000 reward for information that led to an arrest.
Several rappers took to social media to mourn the rising rapper’s death. “Rest in peace I never told you how much you inspired me when you were here thank you for existing,” Kanye West tweeted. Big Sean added, “I didn’t know him personally but I respect how passionate he was about his music and message. Nobody deserves this kind of ending. gone too soon, damn! RIP.”
In Los Angeles on Tuesday night, a vigil attended by around 1,000 devolved into the crowd jumping on a news van and swarming passing cars, according to the Los Angeles Times, before being dispersed by police. Earlier that day, a Broward television station reported that “hundreds” gathered at the site of his shooting in a vigil, leaving behind teddy bears and graffiti.