Although initial reports said that Pop Smoke was killed during a home invasion, TMZ is now reported that the rapper's murder appears to be a targeted hit — based on surveillance footage. According to those who have seen the footage from outside the Hollywood Hills home where the rapper was killed, four men wearing hoodies and masked approached the residence at around 4:30 am and snuck around the back. A couple of minutes later, three of the four men walk from the side to the front of the house. The fourth apparently entered through the back door but there was no footage. The next time the man is seen, he exits through the front door of the house.
The person inside the house — who is presumably the shooter, didn't carry anything with him when he left.
Multiple shots were fired inside the home and they only struck Pop Smoke. The rapper was rushed by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
WAS POP SMOKE'S MURDER GANG RELATED?
Meanwhile, several reports say that investigators have yet to determine an official motive for the shooting but have cited the rapper's ties to the Crips gang as a potential lead. According to ABC News, investigators are also allegedly looking into whether the attack had anything to do with Pop Smoke’s January arrest in Brooklyn. Pop was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and charged with stealing a black 2019 Rolls-Royce that he had borrowed for a music video in California.
At the time, he denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to charges of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. He was out on bond at the time of his murder.
TL; DR
Although initial reports said that Pop Smoke was killed during a home invasion, TMZ is now reported that the rapper's murder appears to be a targeted hit — based on surveillance footage. According to those who have seen the footage from outside the Hollywood Hills home where the rapper was killed, the four men who entered the home left the home without anything on their person.
Meanwhile, several reports say that investigators have yet to determine an official motive for the shooting but have cited the rapper's ties to the Crips gang as a potential lead. According to ABC News, investigators are also allegedly looking into whether the attack had anything to do with Pop Smoke’s arrest back in January, where he was charged with stealing a black 2019 Rolls Royce.