Detectives are searching for any link between Pop Smoke's death and the discovery of a dead body in a barrel on Malibu Beach.
As per TMZ, the barrel with Javonnta Murphy's lifeless form was found on July 31.
It turns out that Jaquan Murphy is Javonnta's brother and one of the five arrested after Pop Smoke was killed last year.
Although Jaquan was originally accused of Pop Smoke's murder, the charges were later dropped.
Nevertheless, he is currently on trial for an unconnected homicide in Los Angeles County.
Sources within the legal system have informed the outlet that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is now delving into whether Javonnta's murder may have been an act of revenge for Pop Smoke's death.
Although this is only one of several hypotheses being examined, it is one that authorities are exploring in-depth.
Pop Smoke Death Revisited
In February 2020, news of Bashar Barakah Jackson's passing - better known to fans as Pop Smoke - sent shockwaves through music communities.
The gruesome details of a home invasion gone wrong were revealed by the LAPD, per the Los Angeles Times.
Initially planned by several teenagers, this brazen act ultimately resulted in the senseless murder of an up-and-coming rapper.
Despite their crime having no real payoff, they managed to sell the stolen watch for a mere $2,000.
When Pop Smoke's life abruptly ended at the age of 20, he had no way of knowing how widely known, popular, and successful his music would be long after he was gone.
Before and following his murder, Detective Frank Flores testified that someone logged into the account and conducted numerous searches of relevance to investigators.
At 2:45 AM that morning, for example, the user utilized the rapper's address and looked through LAPD's website.
Furthermore, at 4:08 AM, they delved into Zillow - a real estate site with images of what was inside the house - to research its address.
Shortly after 6 AM, an internet search of "Rolex oyster perpetual datejust" was conducted.
Before 8 AM, the user went on to query "breaking news LA" and visited KABC-TV Channel 7's breaking news page, as stated by the detective.
A few months later, authorities apprehended an underage male and put him in jail.
Unbeknownst to him, the cell contained secret audio recorders that captured details of his conversation with his cellmate.
As reported by Detected Carlos Camacho, the minor admitted to being part of the thieving posse that had committed the robbery leading to Pop Smoke's death.
Apparently, when the rapper posted on Instagram about his bag with his address included, it set into motion their plan to get away with his gold chain and diamond watch.
Pop Smoke refused to give in, according to the detective's testimony.
In response, the teenager pistol-whipped the rapper and then discharged three shots from a 9-millimeter Beretta pistol. All they managed to get away with was the rapper's watch which was sold for an amount of $2,000.
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