Freddie Lee Trone, the man responsible for the death of rapper PnB Rock, has been handed a sentence of 31 years to life. The sentencing comes after Trone’s conviction last month for the robbery and murder of Rakim Allen, known professionally as PnB Rock. The fatal incident occurred at a Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles in 2022.
The details of the crime revealed that Trone orchestrated a robbery, sending his 17-year-old son into the restaurant to target PnB Rock and steal his jewelry. PnB Rock was having lunch with his girlfriend when Trone’s son approached him, demanding the rapper’s “about a half a million dollars” worth of jewelry. Upon PnB Rock’s refusal to comply, the teenager shot him multiple times – once in the chest and twice in the back – before fleeing with the stolen items.
The shooter, Trone’s son, who is now 19 years old, faces murder charges in juvenile court. His case is currently stalled as he undergoes mental health evaluations to determine his competency to stand trial.
PnB Rock, originally from Philadelphia, rose to fame with his double-platinum hit single “Selfish” in 2016. His career was tragically cut short by this violent crime.
In related developments, Tremont Jones, 46, was also convicted in connection to the robbery. Jones received a 12-year prison sentence for two counts of second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. However, Jones was not charged with murder in this case.
The guilty verdict for Freddie Lee Trone was delivered by a jury in Compton, California, after a brief deliberation period of less than four hours. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office confirmed the swift decision. Both Trone and Jones were found guilty on robbery and conspiracy charges alongside the murder conviction for Trone.
Prosecutors highlighted that PnB Rock was wearing expensive jewelry, estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, on the day of the incident. He had reportedly showcased his jewelry online earlier that day. Tremont Jones allegedly noticed PnB Rock’s social media posts and informed Freddie Lee Trone, setting in motion the events that led to the robbery and murder.
According to the prosecution, Trone instructed his 17-year-old son to carry out the robbery. The teenager, armed and masked, approached PnB Rock at his table in Roscoe’s and demanded his valuables. When PnB Rock resisted, the teenager resorted to violence, shooting him in the chest and back before stealing jewelry and escaping with his father.
PnB Rock was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries. He was 30 years old at the time of his death.
Deputy District Attorney Timothy Richardson argued successfully that even without personally firing the weapon, Freddie Lee Trone was guilty of felony murder. Richardson emphasized Trone’s role as a “major participant” acting with “reckless indifference to human life,” which led to his murder conviction.
Sentencing for Lee Trone and Tremont Jones was scheduled for August 27th, while the competency hearing for Trone’s son was set for August 28th. Shauntel Trone, another defendant in the case, pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact in July and awaits sentencing in January.
PnB Rock’s journey to Los Angeles began after signing with Atlantic Records following his initial success with a mixtape in 2014. His stage name, PnB Rock, was derived from Pastorius and Baynton, a street corner in his Philadelphia neighborhood where he grew up.
Throughout his career, PnB Rock collaborated with prominent artists such as Ed Sheeran, Chance the Rapper, Wiz Khalifa, and 2 Chainz, leaving a significant mark on the music industry.
PnB Rock is survived by his two daughters, Milan and Xuri, who he shared with his fiancée, leaving behind a legacy and a void in the hearts of his family, fans, and the music community.
