XXXTentacion Killing: Suspected Murderer Arrested in Broad-Daylight Slaying
Florida police have charged a man with murder in Monday’s fatal shooting of controversial rapper XXXTentacion.
Dedrick Devonshay Williams, 22, was taken into custody by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday just before 7 p.m., according to an arrest report obtained by PEOPLE. Detention records show he was charged with first-degree murder without premeditation, along with driving without a valid license and a probation violation for theft of a car.
Williams was arrested less than two days after XXXTentacion’s shooting, which authorities have described as a “possible robbery” as the 20-year-old rapper was leaving a motorsports dealership outside Fort Lauderdale in his home state of Florida just before 4 p.m. Monday.
Williams was taken into custody following a traffic stop because he was allegedly driving without a valid license, according to his arrest report.
“Homicide detectives are seeking additional suspects,” the sheriff’s office said Thursday. “The investigation continues. Updates will be provided as they become available.”
Authorities did not comment on a suspected motive.
XXXTentacion’s attorney, J. David Bogenschutz, tells PEOPLE his family “will be much calmer as soon as it is confirmed that all of the suspected participants are in custody.”
The rapper’s mother announced police had arrested a suspect at a vigil Wednesday night, according to a video posted by the Instagram account streetwatcherzx.
“I just got the text just now from one of the detectives,” she told the cheering crowd. “They just arrested them. That means they got him.”
Williams was scheduled to have his first court appearance on Thursday, the Sun-Sentinel reports. There, he was ordered held without bail, according to a reporter for local TV station WPLG.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Williams has retained an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
In his few years in the spotlight, XXXTentacion, born Jahseh Onfroy, saw national success as a rapper as well as several high-profile run-ins with the law — including allegations he was abusive.
At the time of the shooting this week, XXXTentacion was reportedly facing trial on multiple felony charges in connection with allegedly assaulting pregnant ex-girlfriend Geneva Ayala.
He repeatedly denied the woman’s accusations, which were detailed at length in a 2017 deposition previously reported on by Pitchfork. Meanwhile, there has been an influx of donations to Ayala’s GoFundMe page — set up to help with her medical bills stemming from the alleged assault by the rapper — following his death.
Police were called to break up the impromptu Los Angeles memorial for XXXTentacion on Tuesday night as thousands gathered on the streets of West Hollywood to mourn the late rapper.
According to The Los Angeles Times, upwards of 1,000 people were in attendance at the event, which was not permitted and was publicized on social media hours before it began.
Though it appeared to start off peacefully around 8 p.m. local time, the memorial quickly grew rowdy.
Officers were first called to the scene around 7:20 p.m. local time, Variety reported, though authorities didn’t begin to break things up until shortly after 9 p.m. The Times reported that the scene was cleared by 10:15 p.m.
• With reporting by ADAM CARLSON
