Man appears in court charged with murdering rapper XXXTentacion

A 22-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with murder days after the killing of rising rap star XXXTentacion.

Dedrick Devonshay Williams of Pompano Beach was arrested shortly before 7pm on Wednesday after a traffic stop, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said a statement.

Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, 20, who went by the stage name pronounced Ex Ex Ex ten-ta-see-YAWN, was gunned down on Monday, bringing a violent end to a brief music career that was marked by controversy and arrests.

Authorities said the rapper was ambushed by two suspects. They did not give a motive in announcing Williams’ arrest but had previously said the shooting was an apparent robbery attempt.

After Williams’ arrest, Broward Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright said homicide detectives also were seeking additional suspects.

An arrest report said Williams was alone in the silver 2004 Honda and driving without a licence when he was spotted by an officer in Pompano Beach. He was taken into custody on an active warrant.

XXXTentacion’s lawyer, David Bogenschutz, said on Tuesday that investigators told him the rapper had visited a bank shortly before the shooting and possibly withdrew cash to buy a motorcycle at Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach.

Williams is charged with first-degree murder without premeditation, a probation violation and for not having a valid driver’s licence.

He appeared before Broward County Judge Kim Theresa Mollica via video on Thursday afternoon. He wore an orange jumpsuit and did not speak during the hearing and he was represented by a public defender.

Judge Mollica ordered Williams to be held without bond. Williams also was scheduled to appear on Monday before a different judge regarding the probation violation charge that stems from a 2014 vehicle theft case.