A jury has found Jacksonville, Florida, rapper “Ksoo,” real name Hakeem Armani Robinson, guilty of the murder of Charles “Lilbuck” McCormick in a 2020 gang war between rival rappers.
Robinson was charged with first-degree murder, which is a mandatory life sentence in Florida, First Coast News, part of the USA TODAY Network, reports. The jury deliberated for 3½ hours on Thursday, July 31, following the lengthy trial that also included the conviction of co-defendant Leroy “ATK Scotty” Whitaker, 24.
Prosecutors said Robinson, 26, gunned down McCormick as he walked out of a temp agency in January 2020. It also involved a home-invasion robbery during the getaway.
The crime was motivated by the death of Robinson’s stepbrother Willie Addison, who was shot when coming out of a club the year before. While Robinson and Whitaker are documented members of the Florida gang ATK. Addison was killed by a member of 6block, a rival gang, and prosecutors say McCormick was also part of 6block.
They said McCormick wrote a “diss track” about Addison’s death, making fun of a shooting that not only killed him, but badly injured Robinson’s father, brother and cousin. Prosecutors say this was Robinson’s motivation in killing McCormick.
According to prosecutors, Robinson, Whitaker and accomplice Dominique Barner stalked McCormick together. While they said Robinson was caught on camera shooting McCormick, Whitaker was accused of being in the car with a loaded gun, also ready to shoot.
During six days of testimony, law enforcement, DNA experts and eyewitnesses testified in the trial. Prosecutors brought dashcam and surveillance video of the shooting, as well as social media posts where they say Robinson was bragging about killing McCormick.
While the state argued that Robinson was easily connected to the crime, the defense countered that he was not the man in the video. They solicited testimony throughout the trial from witnesses who agreed Robinson was too large and tall to be the man in the video, including a police officer who said that when Robinson was arrested, he was surprised by his build.
The defense also argued that Robinson’s phone was not connected to the crime and pointed out that the murder weapon was never found.
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Robinson’s father, a confessed accomplice to the crime, testified against him. He identified Robinson as the shooter in the video, though he said it was the “hardest thing” he had done in his life. Robinson’s defense said that he was no more than a “DNA donor” and that his own violent history meant he was not a trustworthy witness.
This case is related to a web of other crimes in Florida and other parts of the state involving the ATK and 6block rivalry. Robinson faces another trial in the death of Adrian Gainer. He is charged with shooting and killing him – an incident that is mentioned in a viral song by Florida rapper Yungeen Ace, who’s also a member of ATK.
State Attorney Melissa Nelson released a statement following the verdicts.
“Five years ago, Hakeem Robinson and Leroy Whitaker stalked a man and gunned him down in broad daylight because of disputes and drill rap,” she said, according to First Coast News. “Today, a jury held them accountable for their brazen crimes. This was an incredible effort by law enforcement and our team that takes two killers off our streets. Thank you to the jury for their time and dedication.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ksoo rapper found guilty in Florida gang war murder
