Rapper PnB Rock was shot while dining with his girlfriend at Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant, as a video shows him fighting for his life.
The shooting happened, with restaurant employees in a panic as the rapper lay on the floor. Law enforcement sources say they got a call to the restaurant at 1:23 in the afternoon for a shooting victim.
The gunman who killed PnB Rock at the Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles restaurant in South Los Angeles demanded jewellery and other valuables before struggling with the rapper and opening fire, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday.
We don’t yet have any info on the shooter, but we know PnB Rock, 30, whose real name was Rakim Allen was there dining with his girlfriend, Steph, who had posted a location-tagged photo in a since-deleted Instagram post.
It appears the shooter targeted PnB, because no one else was shot or assaulted, and there were plenty of people eating inside the restaurant.
He “was with his family — with his girlfriend or some kind of friend of his — and as they’re there, enjoying a simple meal, he was brutally attacked by an individual who apparently came to the location after a social media posting,” Moore said.
Muniz said that Rock was shot almost immediately by the assailant during the robbery.
“He shot the victim and ran out the side door to a getaway car and then fled the parking lot,” she said.
Muniz said the victim was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at 1:59 p.m.
Investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department are reportedly looking through security footage taken inside the restaurant to find the shooter.
They are also looking into nearby businesses to see whether any security footage shows the attacker fleeing on foot or in a car.
According to Muniz, investigators were analyzing the material on Monday night. She declined to make any comments about what was found.
Rock is originally from Philly, but calls L.A. home. He released his debut mixtape in June 2014, and in 2015 signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. In 2016. Rolling Stone named PnB on the list of “10 New Artists You Need to Know.”
Rock was a perfect fit for the next stage of hip-hop’s development because of his talent for fusing melodies with his rapping.
With the tune “Fleek” from 2015, which transformed the popular Vine video into a national anthem for women who take pride in their beauty, he rose to national recognition. Later, he worked with a variety of musicians, including Ed Sheeran and Chance the Rapper on the song “Cross Me.”
One of his most memorable moments was Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci, with whom he collaborated in 2016 on the winning anthem “Everyday We Lit.” The song was the highest-charting hit for either artist, reaching No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Reacting to his death, Nicky Minaj took to social media to remind fellow rappers to be mindful of how they share their locations online.
“After Pop Smoke there’s no way we as rappers or our loved ones are still posting locations to our whereabouts. To show waffles & some fried chicken????! He was such a pleasure to work with. Condolences to his mom & family. This makes me feel so sick. Jesus. #SIP #PnbRock 🕊” she tweeted.
She also urged the hip-hop community in a series of tweets to look out for young and upcoming artists who may have a target on their back, especially after the deaths in recent years of other acts like Young Dolph, Pop Smoke and Nipsey Hussle. “Pray for pnb rock … the man got family and kids smh God be with the man!!” rapper Offset tweeted.
Anita Zuuri
Annie is an entertainment and lifestyle writer. She enjoys reading and writing about music, celebrities and their lifestyles, food, cars and tech.