Photo Credit:PnB Rock ( Facebook)
Los Angeles County jury has found Freddie Trone, 42, guilty of sending his 17-year-old son to rob and kill rapper PnB Rock. The verdict, handed down on Wednesday after about four hours of deliberation, includes convictions on one count of murder, two counts of robbery, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.
The tragic incident occurred in September 2022, when the teen, now 19 years old and in the custody of the juvenile justice system, walked into a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles restaurant in South Los Angeles wearing a ski mask. He confronted the 30-year-old Philadelphia hip-hop artist, who was dining with the mother of his 4-year-old daughter, and demanded the rapper's valuable jewelry. The teen then opened fire, fatally shooting PnB Rock, whose real name was Rakim Allen.
Prosecutors argued that Trone orchestrated the entire scheme, sending his son on the deadly mission to steal the rapper's expensive accessories, which they estimated to be worth around $500,000. Video footage showed Trone in the restaurant's parking lot about 30 minutes before the killing, and prosecutors said another man, Tremont Jones, had tipped Trone off to PnB Rock's presence and the jewelry he was wearing.
Trone's defense team maintained that he was merely an accessory after the fact and had no prior knowledge of the plan to rob and murder the musician. "There was no evidence produced that he conspired to commit murder," Trone's lawyer, Winston McKesson, told the Associated Press. "There's no evidence there was a conversation about murder, no evidence there was a conversation about a gun."
However, the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, finding Trone guilty on all charges. "Justice has been served for Mr. Allen and his family who have endured unimaginable pain losing a loved one to such senseless violence," said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in a statement after the verdict.
The 19-year-old alleged shooter has not yet been found competent to stand trial, according to reports. Tremont Jones was also convicted on two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy. Both Trone and Jones are scheduled to be sentenced on August 27.
The tragic death of PnB Rock, who was known for his 2016 hit "Selfish" and collaborations with artists like Ed Sheeran, has sent shockwaves through the music community. Tributes poured in from fellow rappers and fans alike, underscoring the senseless nature of the crime. As the legal proceedings continue, the case serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers and consequences of violence, even for those at the height of their creative success.
