Corey Walker Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Pop Smoke’s Fatal Shooting, Set to Serve 29 Years in Prison
Nearly five years after the tragic killing of rising Brooklyn rap star Pop Smoke, one of the key defendants in the case has reached a plea deal. Corey Walker, 24, pleaded guilty in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday to charges of voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery. As part of the deal, Walker will serve 29 years in prison, with an added gun enhancement on the robbery charge.
The move comes after prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Walker, instead adding the manslaughter count this week. In his admission, Walker also confessed to robbing a woman who was present with Pop Smoke the night of the fatal shooting. As part of the plea deal, Walker will serve an additional two-year sentence for the robbery, which will run concurrently with his 29-year term.
A Heartbreaking Turn of Events
The high-profile trial, set to move forward next week, had already begun jury selection before the plea deal was finalized. Walker is set to be sentenced on February 21. In court, Walker confessed to arming a juvenile with a 9mm pistol before the deadly robbery at the California Airbnb where Pop Smoke was staying. He also admitted to selling the rapper’s stolen Rolex watch for $2,000, an act that was part of the violent burglary.
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The courtroom was filled with emotion as Walker’s grandmother and four-year-old daughter were present for the hearing. Despite the plea, Walker’s attorney, Kellen Davis, maintains that his client never intended for Pop Smoke to be harmed during the robbery.
A Legal Defense Amid a Tragic Crime
“All of the evidence supports this position,” Davis told Billboard. “As confident as we were of an acquittal on the murder charge, under California law, sentencing enhancements could have led to life in prison for robbery or burglary. This case highlights a system that can impose extreme penalties on young men for crimes they did not directly commit. Given the circumstances, this is the best possible outcome for our client.”
The events that led to Pop Smoke’s death on February 19, 2020, are still seared in the memories of his fans. Walker, along with three juveniles, broke into the Airbnb rented by Pop Smoke in Hidden Hills, California. After a confrontation in the bedroom where Pop Smoke was staying with a woman, the rapper was shot multiple times. Authorities later revealed that the attackers had tracked Pop Smoke’s location after he posted a gift bag on Instagram just hours before the deadly encounter.
Remembering Pop Smoke’s Legacy
At just 20 years old, Pop Smoke was a rising star in the music industry, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Brooklyn drill music. His impact on hip-hop was profound, influencing a new wave of artists and reshaping the sound of modern rap. His death left a void in the industry, but his influence continues to resonate through his posthumous albums, ensuring that his legacy lives on.
As the case against Walker comes to a close, many are left to reflect on the life and legacy of Pop Smoke, whose potential was tragically cut short. Fans and industry peers alike continue to honor his contributions to music, while the legal system takes its course with the individuals involved in his death.
