Everything We Know About XXXTentacion's Death

Rapper XXXTentacion, born Jahseh Onfroy, was just 20 years old when he was shot and killed outside a Deerfield Beach, Fla. motorcycle dealership on June 18, 2018, reported TMZ. Police reportedly suspect that the shooting was part of a drive-by robbery and that a Louis Vuitton bag was stolen from his vehicle at the time of the attack. Audio from dispatchers reveal that there were multiple gunshots at the scene. He was transported to a hospital by paramedics but pronounced dead a short time later.

The suspects were initially described as two black males wearing hoodies, though it was later reporter that there were two gunmen and one person driving the getaway vehicle. The shooter allegedly donned a red mask, and the suspects reportedly traveled in a black Dodge Journey with matching wheels and tinted windows. According to TMZ, surveillance video revealed that the SUV pulled in front of XXXTentacion's vehicle to block it, and then the attackers jumped out. Video from inside the motorcycle shop allegedly shows the suspects entering the shop while XXXTentacion is insider, then leaving the business and waiting outside until the rapper emerges about ten minutes later, reported TMZ.

The Broward County Sheriff's Department offered a $3,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anonymous tips can be made online at browardcrimestoppers.org or by phone at 954-493-8477.

Here's everything we know about the circumstances surrounding XXXTentacion's death.

Before his untimely passing, XXXTentacion posted an Instagram live video, captured by his fans for posterity, in which he speaks calmly about death, depression, and his desire to make a difference. The date the video was recorded is not clear.

"If ... I f**king die a tragic death or some s**t and I'm not able to see out my dreams, I at least want to know that the kids perceived my message and were able to make something of themselves and able to take my message and use it and turn it into something positive and to at least have a good life," XXXTentacion says in the clip (via The Independent), which appears to have been recorded when he was in a car.

"If I'm going to die or ever be a sacrifice, I want to make sure that my life made at least five million kids happy or they found some sort of answers or resolve in my life regardless of the negative around my name, regardless of the bad things people say to me ... Do not let your depression make you. Do not let your body define your soul, let your soul find your body," he said. "Your mind is limitless. You are worth more than you can believe. All you have to do is dream and all you have to do is want to fulfill that dream and have the strength."

Police are combing through social media for leads in their investigation into XXXTentacion's murder, reported The Blast. Law enforcement sources claimed that Twitter and Instagram sleuths discovered a post from a Georgia rapper who tweeted on June 17, 2018 — the day before the murder — "XXXTentacion gone get shot tomorrow." 

Tipsters reportedly shared other posts, including a photo of a group of men at a gas station following the murder in front of an SUV like the one described in police dispatches and another post featuring a "red mask" like the one authorities believe one suspect was wearing at the time of the shooting. One of the men pictured in those posts later shared a video denying involvement in the shooting.

The Blast reported that although police are investigating XXXTentacion's murder as a robbery, the rapper's family believes he was the target of a premeditated murder. A source told the site, "This was not random." However, finding the bag may aid investigators in also finding the killer(s).

A suspect was arrested in connection with XXXTentacion's murder on June 20, 2018. Dedrick D. Williams, 22, was taken into police custody and booked for first-degree murder, TMZ reported. During a vigil in Florida, where XXXTentacion lived and where the murder took place, the rapper's mother reportedly informed family and friends that police had made the arrest. TMZ later reported that Williams may not have been the shooter, quoting police documents that alleged he "had an active part in the murder of [2 words redacted] by blocking in the victim's vehicle so that the two gunman (sic) could rob the victim at gun point." According to TMZ, "Cops also have surveillance video from a store prior to the murder, showing Dedrick purchasing a black, neoprene mask."

In addition to the murder charge, Williams was also charged with a probation violation for a previous grand theft auto charge. According to TMZ, his rap sheet boasts 11 felonies, including past offenses for cocaine possession, weapons possession, domestic violence, and aggravated assault with a firearm. In a 2014 incident, Williams reportedly held a gun to his then-girlfriend's head. He is currently being held without bail.

Dubious details about Dedrick D. Williams have been revealed since his arrest. According to Heavy, he may have posted a threatening message on a social media account two days after XXXtentacion was shot. "Don't p**s me off u will never know [what's] next," Williams allegedly wrote on his supposed Facebook page. (Heavy reported that he goes by the name Chucky Williams.) 

Based on his alleged social media, Williams appears to be a father who worked as a tattoo artist under the moniker "Tattooman Chucky." He apparently sports a tattoo of the murderous doll on his right arm. TMZ reported that in one image on his alleged Facebook and Instagram accounts, Williams is wearing orange sandals. According to the tab, his arrest warrant claimed he was also wearing orange sandals at the time of the shooting.

Since the arrest, Williams' alleged social media accounts have been flooded with hate messages from XXXTentacion fans calling him a "murderer," "killer," and much worse, so if these are not his accounts, someone else's profiles are being overrun with accusations. 

It's important to note that as of this writing, Williams has merely been accused, not convicted, of being connected to XXXTentacion's death. Additionally, it's important to note that police are investigating more than one person. TMZ reported that two other arrest warrants were signed by a judge, though those two suspects have not been taken into police custody as of press time.

In February 2014, XXTentacion tweeted, "When I die, play Fredo at my funeral," referring to his own close friend, Fredo Santana, who died in January 2017.

Santana died from a fatal seizure, reported TMZ. Santana was hospitalized several times in the months before his tragic passing, including once for liver and kidney failure in October 2017. XXXTentacion visited Santana as he recovered. Upon leaving the hospital, Santana reportedly went right back into the studio to make more music, though Rolling Stone reported that he considered going to rehab as well in order to improve his health and wellness.

Fellow artists were heartbroken to hear the news of XXXTentacion's death, taking to social media to express grief and condolences.

"Rest in peace," Kanye West tweeted. "I never told you how much you inspired me when you were here. Thank you for existing."

XXXTentacion collaborator Diplo wrote, "The two leaders of this entire wave of hip hop are dead now. If you really want to [revel] in their deaths I will block you. No time for negativity."

Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker tweeted, "I'm at a loss for words ... speechless #RIPXXXTentacion. Loved collaborating with you. You were a true artist, one of the most f**king talented of our time."

"My heart dropped when I heard about @XXXTentacion," Big Sean said. "I feel like we only got to see a glimpse of his artistry. I didn't know him personally, but I respect how passionate he was about his music and his message. Nobody deserves this kind of ending. Gone too soon."

After his murder, the woman who accused XXXTentacion of domestic violence was flooded with donations to a GoFundMe account she began in October 2016 for orbital surgery she needed following the alleged attack earlier that month. The woman described two fractures to her left eye socket, as well as nose and jaw fractures, that, if untreated, could have left her blind and caused her to lose some sensation in the left side of her face. She was seeking $20,000 for the surgery, and as of press time, she surpassed her goal by more than $11,000. Many of the donations were small — meaning a lot of people donated.

XXXTentacion had been warned to beef up his security. "We talked about him needing security," lawyer David Bogenschutz told The Sun-Sentinel. "That he was past the point of being a kid making melodies on the street."

Producer Zxflo, a close friend of XXXTentacion, said he believes the rapper was targeted for murder. "Through the years, he's gained some enemies," he told the Daily Mail. "He did not travel alone, he never traveled alone — he knew that he has enemies ... I know there were people who were very jealous and envious of him. He came from an area where not a lot of people make it out."

Despite the supposed warnings, XXXTentacion was reportedly alone when he was shot. 

Just hours after XXXTentacion was shot to death, up-and-coming Pittsburgh rapper Jimmy Wopo (born Travon Smart) died following a drive-by shooting in his Pennsylvania hometown, Billboard reported.

The 21-year-old's manager, Taylor Maglin, confirmed the death on Facebook, writing, "I lost my brother today and it's the worst feeling in the world. He was destined for greatness and he wanted the best for his friends, family and community. We lost a great person today, but just know I will do everything in my power to make his memory live on forever. Love you bro."

Two other individuals were shot in the same drive-by, according to WTAE, but only one of them survived. At the time of this writing, no suspects have been named in Wopo's shooting.

Just before his murder, XXXTentacion announced he was planning a concert to benefit suicide prevention. Sources close to the rapper told The Blast that he was "quietly" lining up a series of philanthropic events for the near future. Just two hours before his death, he posted an Instagram story announcing his efforts to plan a charity concert in Florida.

It was a cause close to his heart, The Blast reported, as he'd previously lost a close friend, Jocelyn Flores, to suicide, and the recent highly publicized suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade have put the topic at the forefront of many conversations about mental health.

[If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call or chat online with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).]

They say you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, and apparently music buyers and streaming services aren't immune to that. TMZ reported that XXXTentacion's Amazon digital sales of ? skyrocketed a whopping 41,306 percent in digital sales and 542,000 percent in LP and 54,000 percent in CD sales since his death, with 17 getting a 9,000 percent increase in downloads.

His iTunes numbers have also increased, with his track "SAD!" hitting No. 1 on the digital songs chart and "changes" resting at No. 5, and the ? and 17 albums respectively charting at No. 3 and No. 5. Spotify previously pulled his music from featured playlists after news of his domestic violence arrest hit, but the company began featuring his tracks again after his death with a "RIP XXXTENTACION" banner.

Just as some conspiracy theorists sill believe Tupac Shakur is alive, there are fans who think XXXTentacion isn't actually dead. 

Fans pointed to an Instagram video from last year in which XXXTentacion appeared to have hanged himself, then denied he had really attempted suicide in a follow-up posting. "Everybody got to chill the f**k out!" XXXTentacion says in the clip. "...Calm the f**k down. It's for a music video ... I'm not dead." 

That old video resurfaced after the rapper was shot and killed on June 18, 2018, but many social media users believed the footage was new, reported The Independent. "I knew he wasn't dead cause [there] was no blood and no shots in the car glass," one commenter wrote on YouTube. Others wrote variations of "Thank God" and "I knew he wasn't dead," not realizing that the video was old.

A memorial for XXXTentacion was held in Los Angeles on June 19, 2018, and it quickly got out of control. TMZ reported that some fans jumped off of roofs, scaled buildings, and climbed on top of cars, leading police to descend on what began as a relatively peaceful tribute to the rapper. KABC-TV reported that some attendees threw rocks at police officers on the scene.

"We're going to try to have them safely leave and try to get the street back in order," said LAPD officer Tony Im. Cops reportedly fired tear gas, pepper spray balls, and rubber bullets to disperse the hordes. No permit was obtained to host the memorial in the first place.

The drama at the memorial didn't end with police: The Blast reported that XXXTentacion's ex-girlfriend, who previously accused him of abuse, was not welcomed at the remembrance. "They kicked me out of the vigil," she reportedly wrote on social media. "...The globe, board, flowers and candles I brought for him were placed BEHIND THE CAUTION TAPE, AND THEY LET THEM GET THE S**T AND SET IT ALL ON FIRE. He would've wanted me there. I have no f**king words."