XXXTentacion Murder: Florida Police Make Arrest

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Florida police have made an arrest in the shooting death of rapper XXXTentacion. The artist was killed Monday afternoon in a brazen daytime shooting in South Florida outside Riva Motorsports. Fans have been gathering at the business all week to pay their respects.

"In just more than 48 hours, Broward Sheriff's Office homicide detectives arrested Dedrick Devonshay Williams of Pompano Beach for the murder of Jahseh Onfroy, also known as XXXTentacion," the Broward Sheriff's Office announced shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday.

Police did not say what led the 22-year-old Williams to open fire on XXXTentacion as he was leaving Riva Motorsports. The artist had apparently been shopping for a motorcycle at the business.

Williams was arrested shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday during a traffic stop in Pompano Beach. He was later charged with unpremeditated first-degree murder and grand theft of a motor vehicle. Police said he was driving without a valid license and had an outstanding warrant. He was also serving a probation at the time of the incident.

The Broward Sheriff's Office said earlier that investigators believed the artist was killed during a robbery. Police received a call of a shooting at 3:57 p.m Monday. XXXTentacion lived in the 6500 block of NW 62nd Terrace in nearby Parkland.

"BSO homicide detectives said the 20-year-old victim was leaving RIVA Motorsports in Deerfield Beach shortly before 4 p.m. when he was approached by two armed suspects," police said immediately following the shooting. "At least one of the suspects fired a gun striking Onfroy."

Attorney David Bogenschutz told the Associated Press that the rapper had visited a bank shortly before the shooting and possibly withdrew cash for the purchase, according to information the attorney said he was given by police.

A steady stream of fans have placed candles, flowers and teddy bears on the sidewalk near where the shooting occurred. They decorated a football field length of sidewalk with chalk art that included messages of sympathy and loss such as “Feel for you XXX” and “4evr Young.”

Seventeen-year-0ld Myles O’Hara and 20-year-0ld Aaron Gavin were among the mourners. They said they admired XXXTentacion because he was a local kid who seemed to be turning his life around.

“He had some legal allegations before, but the last year he had only been a positive influence on people’s lives, making hit Billboard songs,” O’Hara said. “He has been a kind person. You could look at his face and smile and he was just a normal kid like us ... His style is almost hard to explain. He had an angry tone. He meant everything he said, even the most simplistic words. It just came off his tongue like nothing. He was speaking his mind.”

XXXTentacion notched a No. 1 album in March with his sophomore effort “?″ and had a top 10 hit with “Sad!” but was facing trial on charges that he beat up his pregnant girlfriend.

In 2016, he was arrested on charges including home invasion for a 2015 incident, and less than a month later was jailed on charges that he attacked his girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time. Later, he faced more charges including witness tampering.

Police said that the rapper was taken to nearby Broward Health North, where he was pronounced dead. The two men fled in a dark-color SUV, according to police.

To report a tip, contact BSO homicide Detectives Walt Foster or John Curcio at 954-321-4210. Alternatively, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dedrick Devonshay Williams of Pompano Beach, Florida was arrested in the death of rapper XXXTentacion. Photo courtesy Broward Sheriff's Office.