Three men are behind bars for the murder of rapper Pop Smoke, who was killed in a Hollywood Hills home invasion in February 2020. The suspects, linked to the notorious Hoover Street gang in South Central LA, had a history of violent crimes and home robberies. They had been monitoring Pop Smoke's social media and used the information to plan the robbery. The investigation was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the LAPD eventually tracked down the suspects through video footage and civilian tips. Five people were arrested, including two minors. The murder is linked to a larger gang rivalry between the Hoovers and the East Coast Crips, to which Pop Smoke belonged.
Here are the key facts:
1. Three men are in custody for the murder of rapper Pop Smoke.
2. The suspects are also linked to the September murder of 18-year-old Cameron Stone at the Rose Bowl parking lot.
3. Pop Smoke was ambushed in a Hollywood Hills home on February 19, 2020.
4. The suspects are allegedly members of the Hoover Criminals gang from South Central Los Angeles.
5. The Hoover Criminals have a history of violence and are known for their rivalry with other gangs in Los Angeles.
6. Pop Smoke was a member of the East Coast Crips from Brooklyn, which made him a target for the Hoover Criminals.
7. The suspects used social media to gather information about Pop Smoke's whereabouts and plan the robbery.
8. Pop Smoke posted a photo of a gift from Amiri on his Instagram story, which included the address of the mansion he was staying in.
9. The suspects waited until 4 am to break into the mansion, thinking Pop Smoke would be asleep.
10. A struggle ensued, and Pop Smoke allegedly shot one of the suspects before being shot twice in the torso.
11. The suspects fled on foot, and someone in New York called the police, alerting them to the incident.
12. The LAPD tracked the suspects to Hoover Street and arrested five people, including two minors.
13. The suspects had a history of committing robberies in the Los Angeles area, including a string of burglaries in upscale neighborhoods.
14. The LAPD found a paper with addresses and floor plans of potential targets, including the homes of LeBron James, Matt Damon, and Rihanna.
15. The suspects used social media to monitor when celebrities were away from their homes and plan their robberies.