Pop Smoke – Police Investigating Possible Retaliation Murder After The Brother Of Rapper’s Suspected Killer Was Found In A Barrel

Pop Smoke, Jovannta Murphy

Pop Smoke – Police Investigating Possible Retaliation Murder After The Brother Of Rapper’s Suspected Killer Was Found In A Barrel

Authorities have connected a recent murder to the killing of the late rapper Pop Smoke.

According to reports, the brother of a man initially charged in the musician’s 2020 shooting death was found deceased in a barrel late last month.

Pop Smoke

On Sunday, July 30th, reports state that a park maintenance officer in Malibu, California spotted the barrel floating near the Pacific Coast Highway bridge. After attempting to drag it to shore, they reportedly realized it was too heavy and left it. Around 10am following day, a life guard saw the same container and was able to successfully secure it before realizing it was a human body inside. Authorities were contacted, and a coroner identified the victim as 32-year-old Javonnta Murphy.

Jovannta Murphy

Following a positive ID, police quickly connected Murphy to the killing of Pop Smoke. If you recall the “Dior” rap star, real name Bashar Barakah Jackson, was shot and killed during a robbery back in February 2020 at the age of 20. It seems that one of the 5 men initially charged in Pop Smoke’s death was Javonnta’s brother Jaquan Murphy. As we covered at the time, Jaquan had originally been arrested on attempted murder charges but was eventually cleared. The report notes he is currently in an L.A. jail, however, for an unrelated case.

Despite Jaquan not being convicted in the musician’s murder, police are reportedly still operating under the assumption that Javonnta’s death could be a retaliation murder. It is noted in the report however, that this is not the only lead they have taken on the situation. No other details about Javonnta’s murder have been released at this time.

[VIA 1,2]

Do you think the situation sounds like a retaliation for Pop Smoke’s murder? Let us know in the comments section below!