Los Angeles authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of rapper Pop Smoke’smurder at his Hollywood Hills rental home.
According to several reports, investigators have yet to determine a motive for the attack but have cited the 20-year-old’s ties to the Crips gang as a potential lead.
“There is a lot of information available,” Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Jonathan Tippet toldThe Los Angeles Times. “We have some work to do.”
Pop Smoke.Scott Dudelson/Getty
Investigators are allegedly also looking into whether the attack had anything to do with Pop Smoke’s January arrest in Brooklyn,ABC Newsreports.
The young rapper 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.
Pop Smoke 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, according to ABC.
On Wednesday, authorities confirmed with PEOPLE that they responded to a call that came in at 4:29 a.m. local time on the 2000 block of Hercules Drive where they say an unknown number of masked suspects entered a residence and shot a black male in his 20s.
New reports say police detained several people inside the house when they responded to the call, but that they were all later released.
According toThe Times,at least four suspects fled the scene and have yet to be located.
Pop Smoke.Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty
Pop Smoke’s record label, Republic Records, confirmed his death in a statement.
The up-and-coming artist later went on to collaborate withTravis Scotton the song “Gatti” in December.
Earlier this month, Pop Smoke released his second mixtape, titledMeet the Woo V.2, which has receivedraving reviewsin its first week. It secured himhis first top 10 placementon the Billboard charts.
Several famous friends mourned his death on social media, including Minaj, who shared a post onInstagram that read: “The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Unbelievable. Rest In Peace, Pop.”
source: people.com
