Man Pleads Guilty in Pop Smoke’s 2020 Hollywood Hills Murder Case
A 24-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of home-invasion robbery for his role in the 2020 killing of rapper Pop Smoke during a break-in at a Hollywood Hills home.
Corey Walker, who was 19 years old at the time of the crime, now faces 29 years in state prison. As part of his plea, he waived credit for the time he has already served since his July 9, 2020 arrest. He is scheduled for sentencing on February 21 in a Los Angeles courtroom.
One of Walker’s attorneys, Kellen Davis, stated that his client has accepted the outcome, recognizing it as “the best under the circumstances.” However, Davis emphasized that Walker was not the shooter and never intended for the murder to happen, yet now “has to carry the load for this.”
Avoiding a Life Sentence
Walker—who admitted to gang involvement and possessing a firearm—originally faced murder charges with special circumstances, including murder during a robbery and murder during a burglary, which could have resulted in life without parole. His guilty plea allowed him to avoid that sentence.
He was one of four people arrested, and the only adult charged in the case. The three other defendants, all juveniles at the time, were prosecuted in juvenile court, with their names withheld due to their ages.
In 2023, one of the juveniles—15 years old at the time of the crime—admitted to first-degree murder, along with an allegation that he personally fired the fatal shot. He also pleaded guilty to home-invasion robbery and will remain in a juvenile facility until he turns 25.
Because of his age, he could not be charged as an adult.
The other two juveniles also entered guilty pleas—one to voluntary manslaughter and home-invasion robbery, while the third admitted to a home-invasion robbery charge. Their current custody status remains unclear.
How the Crime Unfolded
As part of his guilty plea, Walker admitted that he learned of Pop Smoke's location at the Hollywood Hills rental home and that he and a 17-year-old accomplice first surveilled the house around 2:05 a.m. on February 19, 2020. Later, he returned with the three juveniles and another unidentified person, around 4 a.m.
Walker acknowledged:
He provided a 9mm firearm to one of the teens.
He researched the LAPD and the house on Zillow and Google before the crime.
He drove to the house with headlights off to avoid detection.
He kept in contact with the 17-year-old while the others went inside.
The group stole a Rolex watch, jewelry, and a purse, later selling the Rolex for $2,000.
The Fatal Shooting
Los Angeles police were alerted to the break-in by a 911 caller from the East Coast, who reported that a friend’s home was being invaded by multiple suspects, one of whom was armed.
LAPD Capt. Steve Lurie later explained that officers arrived within six minutes and found Pop Smoke shot inside the house. He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses reported that the masked intruders fled on foot, possibly escaping in a nearby vehicle. Authorities arrested the suspects nearly five months later.
Pop Smoke’s Legacy
Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Jackson, had been on the rise as one of hip-hop’s most promising young stars. In July 2019, he released a hit song, “Welcome to the Party”, which was later remixed by Nicki Minaj. He also collaborated with Travis Scott on the track “Gatti.”
At the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, he was honored as:
Top New Artist
Top Rap Artist
Top Male Rap Artist
Top Billboard 200 Artist
His album, "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon", won both Top Rap Album and Top Billboard 200 Album.
Pop Smoke’s mother, Audrey Jackson, accepted one of the awards on his behalf, stating:
"He created music for the kid who has to sleep four in a room, the kid who has to figure out how to get to school each day so he can graduate and make his mom proud. He did this so that 14-year-olds would not have to kill to prove they are somebody. That is the irony in this."
Social Media’s Role in the Crime
Reports suggest that Pop Smoke unknowingly revealed his location on social media earlier that night. TMZ reported that he posted photos from a party at the house, including one image showing a person holding a large sum of cash. This may have made him a target for the robbery.
With Walker’s sentencing approaching, the case serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of online exposure and the deadly consequences of violent crime.
