PnB Rock has passed away at the age of 30.
Best known for his 2016 hit "Selfish," the rapper was slain when he and his girlfriend dined at Roscoe's House of Chicken 'N Waffles in Inglewood, California.
Los Angeles Police Department Captain Kelly Muniz said a shooting occurred at 1:15 p.m. Sources say that the rapper was a target for his jewelry. The suspect entered the restaurant with a gun and demanded items from the customer.
“He shot the victim and ran out the side door to a getaway car and then fled the parking lot,” Muniz said. Muniz said the victim was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at 1:59 p.m.
According to a law enforcement source, Los Angeles Police Department investigators are examining security video from inside the restaurant to identify the shooter. They also are checking surrounding businesses to see whether security systems captured any images of the suspect leaving on foot or in a vehicle.
Rock, born December 9, 1991, as Rakim Hasheem Allen, was a musician from Philadelphia who released his first mixtape while incarcerated.
He eventually signed a deal with Atlantic Records and dropped two studio albums, four more mixtapes, and an EP. He was also part of XXL Magazine’s 2017 Freshman Class. Tragically, he passed away but leaves behind two beautiful daughters.
Rock spoke about prior robbery attempts in Los Angeles during a Sept. 2 episode of the podcast “Off the Record with DJ Akademiks.”
The rapper said he was out with his girlfriend and daughter on Fairfax Avenue “mid-pandemic” when people tried to rob him.
“Where I’m from, we like sneaky criminals,” Rock said. “In L.A. … they bold.”
Rock and the host spoke about how robberies targeting rappers seemed to be becoming more common.
“I never got robbed, ever in my life,” Rock said. “I ain’t gonna say never because I don’t like saying never. I’m not superstitious, but I haven’t been robbed.”
“That’s why I feel like L.A.’s spooky, man,” Akademiks said. “It’s just so bold. I’m seeing mad videos, like they don’t even do it at night. Like night maybe, but broad daylight, that’s when they really do it.”
Rock said that after his oldest brother was killed, he changed — becoming more on edge and conscious of how suddenly a situation could turn deadly.
“It’s just been something in me that just let me know, like this s— real life,” Rock said. “I done seen people die. I done been around people that died…. Anybody can die.”