The trial date for Corey Walker, the sole defendant charged as an adult in the tragic 2020 shooting death of rapper Pop Smoke, has been confirmed.
According to reports from Rolling Stone, Walker’s trial is scheduled to commence on June 25 in Los Angeles.
Walker has entered a plea of not guilty to one count of murder and three additional counts linked to the purported home-invasion robbery at Pop Smoke’s Hollywood Hills residence.
Prosecutors assert that Walker played a central role in orchestrating the crimes, alleging that he surveilled the crime scene beforehand, coordinated with the three juveniles involved, provided weapons, and served as the getaway driver. The incident resulted in the fatal shooting of Pop Smoke during the robbery.
Former attorney Christopher Darden, who previously represented Walker, maintains that his client did not plan the crime but rather acted as the driver, remaining outside the residence.
Darden asserts that Walker was unaware of the shooting until the juveniles returned to the vehicle, at which point he responded by intervening.
The prosecution contends that the motive behind the home invasion was to steal valuables, including money, jewelry, and a diamond-studded watch that Pop Smoke had flaunted on social media.
The rapper inadvertently revealed the address of his rental home in an online post.
Last year, the shooter, who was 15 at the time of the incident and is now 18, confessed to pulling the trigger that resulted in Pop Smoke’s death. He is expected to remain in a juvenile facility until the age of 25.
On the fourth anniversary of Pop Smoke’s untimely passing, Ameliia Rose, who witnessed the rapper’s final moments, reflected on the harrowing experience.
In an interview for the series Hip Hop Homicides, Rose recalled Pop Smoke’s last words to her before the tragic event unfolded.
Details provided by LAPD detective Christian Carrasco shed light on the moments leading up to the shooting, with a witness recounting seeing Pop Smoke fleeing the bathroom before the fatal gunshot was heard.
