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XXXTentacion performs during the second day of the Rolling Loud Festival in downtown Miami on Saturday, May 6, 2017. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS)

Second man arrested in murder of rapper XXXTentacion

Suspect Michael Boatwright, 22, was already in police custody on unrelated charges when officials charged him for an alleged role in killing XXXTentacion

Music

Florida police have charged a second suspect with first-degree murder in the shooting death of up-and-coming rapper XXXTentacion in June, officials said on Wednesday.

Suspect Michael Boatwright, 22, was already in police custody on unrelated charges when officials charged him for an alleged role in killing XXXTentacion, whose real name is Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, while he was leaving a car and boat showroom in Deerfield Beach, about 40 miles (64km) north of Miami, on June 18.

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“Just before 4pm on June 18, Boatwright and another armed accomplice confronted Onfroy in an apparent robbery,” the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said in a Wednesday statement. “At least one of the suspects fired a gun, striking Onfroy. Both of the suspects fled in a dark-colour SUV.”

Michael Boatwright, 22, faces a charge of first degree murder in the killing of rapper XXXTentacion. Photo: Courtesy Broward County Sheriff's Office/handout via Reuters

The rapper was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, officials said.

Another suspect Dedrick Williams, 22, was charged last month with first-degree murder and is currently in police custody. Williams has pleaded not guilty, according to court officials.

XXXTentacion’s hit Sad, rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts following his death.

Chart-topping rapper XXXTentacion is shot dead at 20

Investigators said Boatwright had been arrested July 5 on unrelated drug charges and was being held at Broward County Jail. It was not immediately clear if he had retained a lawyer, according the Broward County Clerk of Courts.

XXXTentacion, who was born and raised in Plantation, Florida, released his debut album in August 2017. His second album “?” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart when it was released in March.

According to local media reports, he had spent time in jail and was awaiting trial on allegations of domestic violence against his pregnant girlfriend.

Robert Allen is sought by law enforcement for violating probation. He is also a person of interest in the investigation of the killing of rapper XXXTentacion. Photo: Broward Sheriff's Office
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