Drake, other rappers listed as potential witnesses in XXXTentacion Florida murder case

When the South Florida rapper known as XXXTentacion was shot to death in 2018, the internet swirled with wild and unsubstantiated conspiracy theories involving mega hip-hop star Drake.

The reason: XXXTentacion had publicly feuded on social media with the Canadian rapper. This cryptic post months before his death got the most attention: “if anyone tries to kill me it was @champagnepapi,” which is Drake’s social-media handle. But XXXTentacion, a fast-rising star himself, later claimed his Instagram account had been hacked.

Broward prosecutors charged four men with the ambush-style murder and robbery outside a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach — and there’s never been a shred of evidence presented that Drake or any other rappers were somehow involved. Still, the online chatter appears to have prompted the defense attorney for Dedrick Williams, one of the defendants, to officially list Drake and a host of prominent hip-hop figures as potential witnesses in the case.

Williams is accused of being the getaway driver, who, according to court records, told investigators he was with the other defendants but had “no knowledge in advance” that the rapper would be robbed and killed.

No evidence in the case has ever been released to suggest investigators have ever put any credence into the internet banter. But listing Drake and other rappers — whose beefs, real or imagined, fuel popular YouTube gossip pages — could be a defense tactic to raise doubt in the minds of potential future jurors.

The trial is set for Jan. 9. Lawyers appeared in Broward circuit court on Thursday, in part, to discuss the witness list. Prosecutors, in a motion, took exception with the listed witnesses who are “international celebrities,” saying the defense provided no addresses or contact information, giving the state little time to depose them before trial.

“It is apparent from the deliberate, late disclosure of the defendant’s witnesses and comments made between the parties that [the] defendant intended to ‘surprise’ the state and create a trial by ambush,” wrote prosecutor Pascale Achille, who asked that Williams’ attorney produce all the witnesses at his own expense.

Miami defense attorney Mauricio Padilla, who filed the witness list, denied the allegation, telling the judge Thursday that he could only file the list after long-delayed depositions had been taken. That included one of Cleopatra Bernard, XXXTentacion’s mother.

Broward Circuit Judge Michael Usan ordered Padilla to provide to him a list, by Monday, of which of the witnesses he planned to subpoena and the addresses where they can be served subpoenas. And he asked that Padilla explain in writing why the witnesses were relevant.

“They are high-profile people. And it’s not easy for me to subpoena. I don’t have numbers, but it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to,” Padilla acknowledged to the judge. “Trying to subpoena Drake is not easy — you need a drone.”

In a Broward Circuit Court document that also showed up on the docket late Wednesday, the defense listed Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, along with rappers 600 Breezy (Antonio Valentino King); 6ix9ine (Daniel Hernandez, formerly called Tekashi69); Top5 (Hassan Ali, who is jailed in Toronto on an unrelated murder charge); Joe Budden (Joseph Anthony Budden II); Migos members Quavo (Quavious Keyate Marshall) and Offset (Kiari Kendrell Cephus). Also listed was Migos member Takeoff (Kirshnik Khari Ball), who was shot and killed last month in Houston, Texas, in an unrelated case.

Also listed as witnesses are former XXXTentacion associates: rappers Tankhead666 (Lynwood Walker III), who is awaiting trial for his alleged role in an unrelated Miami murder, and Ski Mask the Slump God (Stokeley Clevon Goulbourne), who were all part of a collective known as Members Only.

Representatives for Drake and the other rappers could not immediately be reached for comment.

The lawyer for co-defendant Robert Allen, who has pleaded guilty and will testify against Williams, says he’s heard the Drake rumors and believes they’re bogus. Attorney Jim Lewis called the suspects in XXXTentacion’s murder “low-level robbers.”

“From what I’ve seen in this case, it appears to be a crime of opportunity. There’s nothing to indicate this was a professional hit,” Lewis told the Herald on Tuesday. “They were in that store to buy masks for a potential robbery outside, and the mark happened to be right there. It was very bad luck.”

As listed defense witnesses, the rappers potentially could be compelled to testify at trial — or give depositions — about their knowledge of feuds involving XXXTentacion. That’s not a lock, however. Prosecutors or attorneys for the rappers could ask a judge to keep them out of the case, arguing there is no evidence linking the entertainers to the crime.

XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Onfroy, was shot to death on June 18, 2018, as he was leaving RIVA Motorsports dealership in Deerfield Beach. According to police, a dark-colored SUV blocked his BMW, and two gunmen hopped out, robbed the rapper and fired a deadly volley of bullets.

Williams, 27, of Pompano Beach, is accused of being the driver of the SUV. The two gunmen, according to court documents, have been identified as Michael Boatwright, 27, and Trayvon Newsome, 24. All three are awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.

According to a search warrant, Williams admitted to Broward homicide detectives that he went along with the other men to RIVA Motorsports, but had no idea they were planning to rob and shoot XXXTentacion. During his interview, Williams declined to give details about the incident, saying “he wanted to tell the truth ... but wanted a lawyer with him when he did.”

“Williams stated that he was fearful of being labeled a snitch when he went to prison,” the warrant said.

A fourth defendant, Robert Allen, 26, who was believed to be one of the passengers and conspirators, pleaded guilty in August with no plea deal. He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced. He is expected to testify against the other men charged.

XXXTentacion gained publicity in 2017 with his single “Look At Me!” posted to the music website SoundCloud. On Twitter, he later accused Drake, the worldwide Canadian hip-hop star, of copying a portion of his song. Drake denied stealing anything, and XXXTentacion launched a series of tirades against him on Twitter and in interviews.