A Los Angeles County jury has found Freddie Lee Trone, 42, guilty of murder in connection with the 2022 death of rapper PnB Rock. He was shot to death while eating lunch at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles.
Trone was found guilty of murder when he ordered his 17-year-old son to the murder of the 30-year-old Philadelphia rapper in 2022, legally named Rakim Allen.
The teen walked into Roscoe’s on Manchester Avenue and demanded jewelry from the hip-hop star while he was dining with his fiancée — then shot him. Allen was taken to a hospital after the shooting, where he was later pronounced dead.
Prosecutors said the boy acted on his father’s orders, while the defense argued that Trone was merely an accomplice after the fact.
The now 19-year-old was charged with murder but is now in juvenile detention after a judge ruled he is currently incompetent to stand trial.
Shortly after the murder in 2022, the murdered rapper’s girlfriend, Stephanie Sibounheuang, was murdered. said Allen saved her lifeas he threw her under the table while shots were fired. Sibounheuang shares a toddler with the late artist.
Co-defendant Tremont Jones was found guilty Wednesday of two counts of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, related to the same 2022 incident involving the 30-year-old rapper. Jones was not charged with murder.
Jones’ attorney David Haas said he plans to appeal, while Trone’s attorney Winston McKesson said he plans to file a motion for a new trial.
Evidence presented at trial showed surveillance footage of Jones fist-bumping Allen, whose arm was adorned with flashy jewelry. Prosecutors said Jones then tipped Trone off to the rapper’s presence and his jewelry.
Trone denied having anything to do with the robbery and murder, and even testified that he was not there the day it happened. The video showed Trone in the parking lot of the restaurant about 30 minutes before the shooting. Trone testified that he had a reason to be there because he was conducting business for his nearby beauty salon.
PnB Rock was best known for his 2016 hit “Selfish” and for guest appearances on songs by other artists, such as YFN Lucci’s “Everyday We Lit” and Ed Sheeran’s “Cross Me” featuring Chance the Rapper.
