Last week three suspects, Joshua Simmons, Dennis Vance and Brandon Gray were arrested in Los Angeles connection with the murder of rapper Javonnta Murphy whose body was found in a barrel dumped at the Malibu Lagoon on July 31st, 2023.
Malibu Daily News reported on September 14th, the murder was being traced back to one of the gangs from South Central . The motive for the murder is still unknown however is believed to be related to the rap industry.
The three suspects were connected to the criminal street gang known as thee Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips, originally formed in 1976 from the Westside Crips, considered one of the largest gangs in the Los Angeles area.
Joshua Simmon’s brother is currently on trial for the murder of a rapper, as was Javonnta Murphy’s brother, who is tied to the murder of rapper Pop Smoke. Jaquan Murphy was first charged with attempted murder for Pop Smoke’s death, but later cleared. He is, however, currently awaiting trial for an unrelated murder in L.A. County.
Just four days after the gruesome discovery of Murphy’s body at the Malibu Lagoon yet another member of the Murphy family was shot in South Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department sources revealed Murphy was at party at an Air BnB in Malibu at the time of his murder. Shortly after, his body was dumped at the Malibu Lagoon.
The barrel was first noticed by a maintenance worker floating in the Malibu Lagoon in the evening hours of Sunday July, 30th. Murphy’s body was positively identified hours after a lifeguard found a barrel floating in the Malibu Lagoon the morning of July 31st.
Witnesses at the scene described the victim Murphy’s knee protruding from the barrel. Authorities were contacted at about 10:10 AM and dispatched to the Malibu Lagoon. Homicide investigators arrived at approximately 1 PM.
Authorities confirmed Murphy was shot in the head.
This is a developing story.
Leave a Reply