The autopsy on the body of rapper PnB Rock has been completed and the body can now be released to the family.
The 30-year-old was shot and killed Monday, September 12, during a robbery at a Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles after the artist got into a struggle with a suspect who demanded jewelry and other valuables, according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore.
TMZ is reporting the medical examiner declared the death a homicide caused by a gunshot would to the back/chest.
The period between the killing and the release of the body has been one fraught with dismay for the Selfish rapper's family, who is Muslim.
The rapper's mother flew from her home in Philadelphia to identify and claim her son's body. She reportedly wanted to forego the autopsy and have the body released immediately as Islamic law requires burial to happen as quickly as possible after death, although there are exceptions in cases of death in battle or foul play as in this case.
he coroner informed the family that law requires a post-mortem examination in criminal cases.
The LA Times reported that the rapper seemed to be targeted for his jewelry and investigators have put an alarm out to pawn shops in hopes of catching the killer should they try to sell any of the items.
Police sources with the LAPD said investigators were probing security footage from the establishment in addition to nearby businesses in an effort to identify the suspect in the fatal shooting, and if they departed the crime scene on foot or in a vehicle.
The rapper, whose real name was Rakim Hasheem Allen was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania December 9, 1991.
According to his Wikipedia page, Rakim's father was murdered when he was three years old and he had a troubled youth.
He was sentenced to a youth detention center for committing robberies and fighting in school.
At 19 the ABCD artist was sentenced to nearly three years in prison on drug possession and other charges.
Rock turned his interest to music. He first burst on the scene with the 2015 song Fleek. The artist later went on to work with performers including Ed Sheeran, Meek Mill, YFN Lucci and Chance the Rapper.
He had commercial success with the single Selfish, which hit the 51st spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in November of 2016.
He had released his most recent single Luv Me Again this past September 2.
A number of notable names took to Twitter to mourn the tragic death Monday, including Drake, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj and Offset.
Offset wrote, 'Pray for pnb rock….the man got family and kids smh God be with the man,' while Juice Wayne said, 'PnB Rock really died because of the greed of bummy a** n*****. Disgusting. Rest In Peace to the fallen.
Another user wrote, 'PNB Rock life is worth a lot more then sum money & ice. we will never learn.'
