September 24th 2024.
A father has been sentenced to 31 years to life in prison for orchestrating the robbery and murder of US rapper PnB Rock by sending his 17-year-old son into a restaurant to carry out the crime. The verdict was delivered by Judge Connie Quinones in Los Angeles County Superior Court, following a guilty verdict from a jury on August 7. The jury found Freddie Trone, 42, guilty of one count of murder, two counts of robbery, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.
The incident occurred in September 2022 at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles, where the Philadelphia hip-hop star, Rakim Allen, was dining with the mother of his four-year-old daughter. Both sides in Trone's trial agreed that the teen walked into the restaurant and shot Allen while robbing him of his jewelry. The prosecution argued that he was acting on his father's orders, while the defense, which plans to appeal, claimed that Trone was only an accessory after the fact.
District Attorney George Gascón expressed his condolences to Allen's family, friends, and fans, stating that no family should have to endure the loss of a loved one to senseless violence. Trone's attorney, Winston McKesson, disagreed with the judge's decision and plans to appeal. He argued that the judge did not provide sufficient reasoning for considering Trone a "major participant" in the crime, as is customary.
McKesson also pointed out that there was no evidence linking Trone to planning the murder or knowledge that his son was armed. He questioned the validity of the gun found with Allen and accused the jury of violating the judge's instructions by conducting their own investigations with the evidence. McKesson plans to file a notice of appeal.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Allen's mother, Deannea Allen, expressed her disbelief that a parent could put their child in harm's way. She mourned the loss of her son, who she described as a shining light in their family and a star to them. Allen's now-19-year-old son was also charged with murder but is currently in the custody of the juvenile system. A judge has deemed him not competent to stand trial.
PnB Rock, whose real name is Rakim Allen, was known for hits such as "Selfish" and collaborations with other artists like YFN Lucci and Ed Sheeran. He was 30 years old at the time of his death. His mother, Deannea Allen, traveled from their hometown of Philadelphia to give a statement in court, expressing her devastation at the loss of her son and the ripple effect it has had on their family. The AP does not typically name minors accused of crimes, and PnB Rock's 17-year-old son is not being named. Stay updated on all the latest breaking news, celebrity gossip, and sports updates by following our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm, and your privacy is protected.
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