The murder of rapper Pop Smoke is being investigated as a gang-related attack, police sources say.
The 20-year-old artist, who identified himself as a member of the infamous Crips gang in a song released earlier this month, was shot dead at a home in Hollywood Hills at about 4.30am Wednesday.
The incident was initially thought to be a botched home invasion robbery because it came hours after Pop Smoke shared several media posts showing off high-value items.
One of the posts was a video which featured the exact address of the home, which he is said to have been renting from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp and her husband.
But authorities are now reportedly treating it as a targeted hit based on surveillance video from the property and Pop Smoke’s alleged Crips affiliation.
Insiders who have seen CCTV footage told TMZ four men can be seen approaching the $2.5million home on Hercules Drive roughly ten minutes after people inside deadbolted the front door.
One of the suspects apparently walked to the back of the house, where there were no cameras, and entered before multiple shots were fired.
That suspect, who TMZ said is presumed to be the shooter, then fled through the front door with nothing in his hands.
He and his alleged accomplices are still on the run as of Thursday morning.
Police arrived at the home within minutes of receiving a call about the gunfire.
First responders with the Los Angeles Fire Department were filmed rolling Pop Smoke out of the home on a stretcher.
He was transported by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood, where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives questioned the witnesses inside the house and determined none of them were involved in the shooting.
SOURCE: Daily Mail
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