FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After a long, sometimes contentious trial and more than a week of deliberations back in March, three men accused of killing rapper XXXTentacion were found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery.
On Thursday, Trayvon Newsome, Michael Boatwright and Dedrick Williams were sentenced to life in prison.
In June 2018, the young rapper, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was leaving Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, when his car was cut off by a blue Dodge Journey.
Two masked men jumped out of the SUV, stole a bag full of cash and shot him multiple times.
Investigators say those masked men were Newsome and Boatwright and that Williams was driving the SUV with a fourth man, Robert Allen, sitting in the back seat.
At their sentencing Thursday, family and friends of Onfroy were able to address the convicted killers face-to-face.
“I heard the death penalty is off the table, however, whatever time is given and whichever hole you are sent, I hope it is hell and you rot there,” Melody Jones, the rapper’s great aunt, said.
Solomon Sobande, XXXTentacion’s personal entertainment manager, also gave remarks.
“We sat through this entire trial without seeing the defendants display an ounce of remorse for taking Jahseh’s life,” he said. “Smiling at us, blowing kisses, waving, without even taking into consideration you not only killed a son, but you killed a father.”
In June, Allen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and testified for the state.
All three men are expected to appeal their guilty verdicts in the years to come.
Watch the sentencing: