The defendant of Pop smoke murder takes a guilt agreement with 29 years in prison

The only adult accused of the murder of rapper in promotion 2020 Pop smoke He accepted a guilt of prosecutors on Wednesday, limiting a prosecution of almost five years of predominantly youth defendants in the deadly theft of home invasion that shocked the hip-hop industry.

Corey Walker, accused of leading three minors to the alkylado Airbnb the morning of the shooting, declared himself guilty of voluntary homicide and theft of invasion of the house with improvements of weapons and gangs. It must be sentenced to 29 years in prison at an audience established for February 21, 2025.

Prosecutors withdrew a murder position under the agreement. The new voluntary position of involuntary homicide, added on Wednesday, included the aggravating factors that the crime was carried out with planning and a “high degree of cruelty, cruelty and insensitivity.” Walker also declared himself guilty of a woman’s related robbery at home. The involuntary homicide and additional theft sentences have additional two -year sentences that will be executed simultaneously with the 29 years, prosecutors said. The pleas avoided a jury trial that was scheduled to start this week in downtown Los Angeles.

According to prosecutors, Walker and his cohorts planned the robbery to steal cash, the thick gold chain and the clock full of diamonds that Pop Smoke, 20, had shown on social networks one day before. The group was able to locate the rental house because Brooklyn rapper, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, inadvertently published a photo of a gift bag with the address listed on a label.

Jackson’s mother, Audrey Jackson, counts Rolling stone She is grateful that the case has been resolved, but does not help your broken heart. “It’s over for everyone except for me. This never ends for me. And that is unfair, “he said, speaking by phone after the audience.” I am grateful that the culprits have been trapped. I appreciate that they have received justice to the maximum extension of the law. But my life does not change. I still do not have my Son.

Walker appeared in the court with an orange jail uniform, flanked by his defense lawyers Kellen Davis and Deion Benjamin. The attached prosecutor of the Los Angeles County District, Hilary Williams, asked if he had reviewed his 17 -page agreement. “Yes, Madam,” he said. Williams then asked Walker if he agreed on the underlying facts of the case, including that he examined the rental house on his BMW with a 17 -year -old accomplice, he left to recruit others, he returned in a different vehicle with ski masks , gloves and gloves and a police scanner to avoid detection and provided a 9 mm firearm to one of the minors. “Yes,” he answered each question. Williams also asked if it was true that he and his cohorts sold Jackson’s stolen Rolex for only $ 2,000. “Yes,” he replied softly while his grandmother and 4 -year -old daughter watched from the gallery.

At the end of the audience, Walker asked him if he could briefly interact with his daughter. The child’s mother had six months pregnant at the time of her arrest, so she never had the opportunity to hold her little girl, her family said. He was allowed to spin and fly a kiss.

Walker, 24, was originally accused of a murder position, two charges of robbery and a robbery charge. He had faced the possibility of life without probation if accused. When prosecutors first announced Walker’s arrest in July 2020, they said it would be eligible for death penalty Because pop smoke was shot fatally during an alleged robbery. (The posterior day George Gascón then instituted a policy of not looking for the death penalty. Recently chosen Da Nathan Hochman He said The death penalty “should only be used in the rarest cases.”

Three other defendants, including the 15 -year -old shooter, were accused as minors. The teenager Triggerman Admitted in May 2023 that Shot the famous rapper “Dior” During an invasion theft of the house around 4 in the morning of February 19, 2020. It was sentenced to 50 years of life imprisonment, but according to the California law, the maximum age for youth detention is 25 years) . 17 years at that time, Admitted to voluntary homicide and house invasion Theft at an audience in April 2023. The third minor, 16 at that time, also resolved his case and was sent to an installation of youth housing after Rolling stone.

Walker was 19 at the time of murder and was described by prosecutors as the group leader. They said that “it facilitated the crimes not only by monitoring the crime scene before the crimes were committed, but also served as a researcher, escape driver, arms supplier and planner of this theft of invasion of the house.” Walker’s previous defense lawyer, Christopher Darden, did not agree, arguing in judicial presentations obtained by Rolling stone That Walker “did not plan this crime” and, in the “worst case”, he was only the driver who remained outside sitting in the seat of the exhaust car driver.

According to the police and prosecutors, the youth defendants, some in ski masks, reached an outdoor balcony and broke into the room above the Airbnb rental house where Jackson was showering. The prosecutors alleged that Walker was in communication with the minors through the cell phone during the incident that ended with Jackson being hit by gun and shot three times in the back with a 9 mm Beretta semi -automatic gun.

A police detective testified at a preliminary hearing that a Google account linked to Walker investigated the rental house before the murder and then looked at “Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust” at 5:15 am, less than an hour after the First call from 911.

In his failed motion to dismiss the murder position of Walker, Darden argued that Walker “did not share the intention of the royal killer to kill.” In its October 2021 presentationHe said Walker “was aware that a weapon was being used”, but he was careful to insist that “if it became necessary for suspects to defend themselves, they should wear a vase of flowers instead of shooting someone.” Darden said: “It was only after the thieves left the house and went back into the vehicle that (Walker) learned about the shooting. In response, (Walker) he assaulted the shooter.

When they left the audience on Wednesday, Davis and Benjamin said it is indisputable that their client remained in the car and did not shoot anyone. But even if they won the acquittal of the murder position, I could still have faced life imprisonment in the robbery with the improvements.

“Under the circumstances, we are sure that this is the best result for Mr. Walker to still have a future. And, of course, our thoughts and prayers are with Pop Smoke family. This is something that should never have happened, something that Mr. Walker never wanted to have happened, “said defense lawyer Davis Rolling stone After the audience.

Davis and Benjamin said they were sure that they could have won an acquittal of the murder position, but there was still the risk of a life sentence about the robbery charge considering the improvements.

“Our goal was to allow our client to go out and be with his family again,” Benjamin said. “The facts of the case showed that he did not want death to happen. And is very regretful. “

Theida Salazar, the defense lawyer of the 15 -year -old shooter, said previously Rolling stone that his client was also repentant. “He was born in custody of an imprisoned mother and grew up in a community that forced him to identify and associate with gangs,” said Salazar.

The lawyer described Jackson’s murder as a tragic end for a young man and a promising artist. “Lord. Jackson was ready to have a global impact,” said Salazar. “There is no way to measure the heights that you could have achieved, and you must not replace it or their contributions to the arts.”

On Wednesday, Jackson’s mother said he does not plan to attend the February 21 sentence of Walker. Instead, he will present a new clothing line in his child’s name and holding a charity gala In Canarsie, Brooklyn, to honor community leaders through its Shoot for the Stars Foundation in honor of the rapper.

“I have a full week of events that celebrate the life of my son,” she says. “I have not been holding animosity. I just be overcoming this. There is nothing to say (in Walker’s judgment). Everyone’s life has been ruined. “