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Father of man who killed rapper PnB Rock sentenced

Father of man who killed rapper PnB Rock sentenced

Rapper PnB Rock was shot and killed in September 2022. (Getty Images)

A father who sent his 17-year-old son to kill rapper PnB Rock has been sentenced to 31 years to life in prison.

PnB, whose real name is Rakim Hasheem Allen, was shot dead in front of his girlfriend at a Los Angeles restaurant by a masked man.

According to the Associated Press, 42-year-old Freddie Trone has denied giving his teenage son the order to kill him in September 2022, and his defense attorney testified during the trial that he was merely an accessory after the crime was committed.

However, in August he was found guilty of murder, two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

The second defendant, Tremont Jones, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

In a statement after the verdict on Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said: “Today, justice was served and two men were punished for a tragic and senseless murder.

“His life was cut short by an act of violence that no family should have to endure.”

Both sides agreed in court that Trone’s son walked into Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles and shot the rapper, then robbed him of his jewelry.

Now 19, he has been charged with murder but has not yet been deemed competent to stand trial.

Trone’s legal team said he plans to appeal the sentence imposed on him.

Shortly after PnB’s death, his girlfriend Stephanie Sibounheuang posted on Instagram saying he saved her life during the attack.

“I shouldn’t be here, but (because of) him. I am,” she wrote.

She described the traumatic effects of the shooting, the inability to transport the man by ambulance and having to leave the restaurant while the police investigated.

“My world is dark right now. My heart is broken for the children,” she wrote.

PnB was born in Philadelphia in 1991 and rose to fame after the release of his 2016 hit single Selfish.

He has collaborated with artists such as Ed Sheeran and recorded two studio albums: Catch These Vibes and Trapstar Turnt PopStar.

He released his last song, Luv Me Again, just two days before the shooting.

Following his death, tributes from artists began pouring in, including Drake, who posted a photo of the two together on his Instagram, and Nicki Minaj stated that it was “a pleasure to work with PnB.”

(BBC)

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