John Jefferson
Top inset: Rakim Hasheem Allen (Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File). Bottom inset: Freddie Lee Trone (Los Angeles Police Department). Background: The restaurant where Allen was shot and killed (KTLA).
A man who ordered his teenage son to kill the rapper “PnB Rock” for his jewelry as he ate lunch with the mother of his 4-year-old daughter at a Los Angeles restaurant in 2022 will spend at least several decades behind bars.
Freddie Lee Trone, 42, was sentenced to 31 years to life in prison for the murder of the 30-year-old rapper, whose legal name is Rakim Hasheem Allen, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced in a news release.
The victim’s mother, Deannea Allen, addressed the court, Rolling Stone reported.
“I do not understand how a parent could directly put their child in danger,” she said. “I just can’t comprehend it. That one action had a ripple effect, and it has ruined many lives. Rakim was the shining light in our family. He was a star to us.”
Gascón called the shooting tragic and senseless.
“I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Rakim Allen,” he said in the news release. “His life was cut short by an act of violence that no family should have to endure. I also want to commend the tireless efforts of our Community Violence Reduction Division. Their dedication to this case demonstrates the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, prosecutors, and the community in reducing violence and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
Trone was found guilty of murder, two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.
He denied ordering his son to kill the rapper and said he was only an accessory after the crimes, The Associated Press reported. Trone’s attorney, Winston McKesson, plans to appeal, saying there was no evidence his client was a “major participant” in the crime and didn’t know his son was armed, the wire service reported.
A relative of Trone’s, Shauntel Monique Trone, 40, pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact in July 2024. She is set to be sentenced in January. Trone’s son, 17 at the time of the murder, is set to appear in court for a status conference on Oct. 2, prosecutors said. A fourth defendant, Tremont Jones, was convicted of two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, prosecutors said.
As Law&Crime reported, Allen was killed on Sep. 12, 2022, at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles. Authorities said Allen was targeted for his jewelry.
“The suspect shot Allen and removed some of his property,” prosecutors said in an earlier news release. “The suspect also demanded property from Allen’s girlfriend. The suspect fled the location in an awaiting vehicle.”
Days later, Trone’s son and Shauntel Trone were arrested. Trone was caught on Sept. 29, 2022, in Las Vegas by a federal task force, police said in a news release.
Gascón said at the time that Allen’s murder “dimmed a bright light in the lives of his fans, friends and most importantly his family.” He called the defendants’ actions “heartless and cruel” and said they “robbed the world of Mr. Allen’s talents.”
Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles mourned PnB Rock in a message posted to social media that called him “an incredible artist in Los Angeles and everywhere.”
“His passing represents an enormous loss to each and every one of us,” the message said. “Our most heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers go to the Allen family at this difficult time.”
Born in Philadelphia, Allen released two albums in 2017 and 2019 after his single “Selfish” hit 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2016. He’s collaborated with artists such as Ed Sheeran and Chance the Rapper and released an independent single called 12 days before his murder. He has two children.
Meghann Cuniff contributed to this report.
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