Fri | Dec 20, 2024

Jury convicts 3 of murder in death of rapper XXXTentacion

Published:Monday | March 20, 2023 | 1:00 PM
This combo of photos provided by the Broward County Sheriff's Office shows, from left, Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome. A Florida jury has convicted the three men of murder in the 2018 killing of star rapper XXXTentacion, who was
AP
This combo of photos provided by the Broward County Sheriff's Office shows, from left, Michael Boatwright, Dedrick Williams, and Trayvon Newsome. A Florida jury has convicted the three men of murder in the 2018 killing of star rapper XXXTentacion, who was shot during a robbery that netted $50,000. The jury deliberated a little more than seven days before finding Boatwright, Williams and Newsome guilty on Monday, March 20, of first-degree murder and armed robbery.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) —

Three men were found guilty Monday of the 2018 killing of star rapper XXXTentacion, who was shot outside a South Florida motorcycle shop while being robbed of $50,000.

Michael Boatwright, 28, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24, were all found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery by a jury that deliberated a little more than seven days. They will receive mandatory life sentences at a later date.

The defendants showed little emotion as each stood and was handcuffed by a bailiff.

During the monthlong trial, prosecutors linked the men to the June 18, 2018, shooting outside Riva Motorsports in suburban Fort Lauderdale through extensive surveillance video taken inside and outside the store, plus cellphone videos they took that showed them flashing fistfuls of $100 bills hours after the slaying.

Prosecutors also had the testimony of a fourth man, Robert Allen, a former friend of the defendants who said he participated in the robbery. He pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder. He has not been sentenced pending the conclusion of this trial. He could get anywhere between time served, meaning he could soon be released, and life, depending partly on how prosecutors perceive his assistance.