Two men found guilty in the murder of rapper PnB Rock during a robbery at a Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles.
In a significant court ruling, the man accused of orchestrating the fatal robbery of rapper PnB Rock at a Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles restaurant has been found guilty on multiple charges. Freddie Trone, 42, was convicted of felony murder, two counts of robbery, and one count of conspiracy on Wednesday, following a swift trial in Compton, California. The jury, composed of four women and eight men, took less than four hours to reach their decision, underscoring the strength of the evidence presented.
The tragic event occurred on September 12, 2022, when PnB Rock, whose real name was Rakim Allen, was gunned down in the restaurant while dining with his fiancée, Stephanie Sibounheuang. The jury heard chilling testimony during the nine-day trial, including details of how Trone’s 17-year-old son allegedly carried out the deadly attack. According to the prosecution, the teenager, who is being tried separately in juvenile court, entered the restaurant wearing a ski mask and a “Fruity Pebbles” T-shirt. He reportedly demanded the rapper’s jewelry and threatened to kill Sibounheuang before opening fire.
PnB Rock’s mother, Deannea Allen, expressed relief and satisfaction with the verdict.
“I’m elated,” she told Rolling Stone moments after the jury’s decision was announced. “I wanted to jump up and scream, ‘Hallelujah.’ I’m so happy it was quick. We got justice for Rakim. I feel better knowing they’ll be in jail for a long time.”
The medical examiner testified that PnB Rock was shot once in the chest and twice in the back. Sibounheuang recounted the terrifying moments, describing how Allen “threw” her under the table as gunfire erupted. The emotional testimony played a key role in painting a vivid picture of the crime for the jury.
Trone was not alone in facing justice. His co-defendant, Tremont Jones, 46, was also found guilty of two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy. Prosecutors argued that Jones was the one who tipped off Trone about the rapper’s presence at Roscoe’s, along with the fact that he was wearing nearly half a million dollars in jewelry. Sentencing for both men is scheduled for August 27, with both facing the possibility of long prison terms.
Sibounheuang, who witnessed the murder and endured the trauma of that day, also shared her thoughts on the outcome. “I’m grateful we could get justice so soon,” she said. “I don’t have to be concerned about who did it. I don’t have to worry about where it came from. I know exactly where it came from, and I know that justice is served.”
The jury’s decision was heavily influenced by surveillance footage showing the moments leading up to and following the murder. The key piece of evidence was a video capturing the Buick Enclave used to drop off the teen shooter at the restaurant and pick him up minutes later. Trone had testified that he was not in the vehicle at the time of the crime, claiming that he found his son in a nearby parking lot after the incident.
However, the jury foreperson, Edwin Lovo, stated that the panel carefully analyzed the footage, which clearly showed Trone in the driver’s seat based on his distinctive clothing. “We could clearly see it was him,” Lovo explained. “There was somebody with a white shirt and frayed pants in the car. It was the dad driving the car. He was an accomplice. So that led us to follow the verdict form and check off all those points.”
In closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney Timothy Richardson emphasized that Trone was fully aware of his son’s dangerous nature when he planned the robbery, which quickly escalated into a murder. Trone’s defense lawyer, Winston McKesson, argued that Trone was at Roscoe’s minutes before the shooting for unrelated reasons, but the jury ultimately rejected this defense.
The guilty verdicts bring a sense of closure to the tragic loss of PnB Rock, a talented artist whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence. As the sentencing date approaches, the families and loved ones of those involved await final justice in this high-profile case.
