LAPD Charges Three Murder Suspects in Shooting Death of PnB Rock

The Los Angeles Police Department has identified a person of interest in the killing of rapper PnB Rock, who has shot to death during a robbery attempt at a Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles in Los Angeles.

Police named Freddie Lee Trone as a suspect Wednesday and asked for the public’s help in finding the person of interest; Trone has not yet been apprehended, and police consider him “armed and dangerous.” Trone has been charged with one count of murder and conspiracy to commit robbery, and two counts of second-degree robbery, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced Thursday.

Additionally, Trone’s 17-year-old son was arrested for serving as the getaway driver for his father; Trone’s son, who was not named by prosecutors because he’s still considered a minor, faces one count each of murder and conspiracy to commit robbery as well as two counts of second-degree robbery.

The LAPD also confirmed that a woman named Shauntel Trone was also arrested on suspicion of accessory to murder after the fact.

“The murder of Mr. Allen dimmed a bright light in the lives of his fans, friends and most importantly his family,” District Attorney Gascón said in a statement.

“The accused individuals’ alleged actions in this case were heartless and cruel and robbed the world of Mr. Allen’s talents. I thank the investigators who presented the case to my office. As we do every single day, we will work diligently to make sure that those responsible for taking the life of an innocent victim are held accountable.”

Freddie Trone, who has previously gone by the alias “tiny night owl,” has a criminal record, including a 2002 robbery arrest and a 2005 felony charge for threatening someone, IndieLand has confirmed.

Allen was shot multiple times during the robbery attempt and was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “The victim was eating at a table when he was approached by one suspect,” LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman told IndieLand. She said the “suspect demanded items” from the rapper, brandished a weapon, and fired multiple shots. The suspect “removed some items from the victim, entered a waiting vehicle, and fled the scene.”

Earlier this week, Emmanul Danquah, aka South Side Chief, a Minneapolis-based videographer and media personality, attempted to clear his name after being falsely implicated by social media for playing a role in PnB Rock’s murder; Danquah and Allen had previous public arguments over Instagram Live.

Danquah said he had nothing to do with the murder and that he and PNB Rock were on cordial terms. “I didn’t have anything to do with it,” he said during an interview on the Drea O Show YouTube account. “I wasn’t there, I didn’t make an ‘OG phone call’ or anything.” 

TMZ reported last week that the LAPD was “under the impression [that PNB Rock’s murder] might’ve been more than just a random robbery … on the contrary, it may have been a planned execution by a foe.” An LAPD source refuted that description, telling IndieLand that “at this time that we have not established a motive and we are NOT ‘under the impression’ that this might have been a planned execution. We look at every angle in every homicide. It would be irresponsible to not look at all the possibilities.”

This story was updated on 9/29 at 1:53pm ET with the District Attorney’s charges against the three suspects.