Man Linked to Pop Smoke’s Murder Pleads Guilty, Faces Up to 29 Years in Prison

A man charged in connection with the fatal shooting of rapper Pop Smoke in Hollywood Hills has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home-invasion robbery, avoiding a potential life sentence without parole.

Corey Walker, 24, entered his guilty plea Wednesday, admitting to two counts of home-invasion robbery for his role in the February 19, 2020, killing of the Brooklyn-born rapper, whose legal name was Bashar Jackson. Initially charged with murder, Walker now faces up to 29 years in state prison, with sentencing set for February 21.

Pop Smoke, just 20 years old at the time, was on a four-day trip to Los Angeles, staying at a rental home in Hollywood Hills, when masked robbers broke in while he was in the shower. Investigators later determined that the assailants had tracked his location from a photo he posted on Instagram, revealing the home’s address.

Walker was 19 at the time of the killing, while co-defendant Keandre Rodgers was 22. Two other defendants—both teenagers at the time—have already admitted to their roles. A 15-year-old suspect, who pistol-whipped and fatally shot Pop Smoke, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in May 2023 and is expected to remain in a juvenile facility until he turns 25. A 17-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home-invasion robbery, receiving a four-year and two-month sentence in a juvenile facility.

According to testimony, the robbers stole Pop Smoke’s diamond-studded Rolex watch and later sold it for just $2,000. The case sparked conversations about celebrity security and social media dangers, as the attackers were able to target the rapper based on an Instagram post.

Walker and Rodgers initially faced special allegations that could have made them eligible for the death penalty, though California has had a moratorium on executions since 2019. Prosecutors later announced they would not seek the death penalty against Walker.