PnB Rock, the Philadelphia rapper best known for his 2016 hit “Selfish,” was fatally shot during a robbery at the Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles restaurant in South Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, law enforcement sources told The Times.
Los Angeles police Capt. Kelly Muniz said a shooting took place at 1:15 p.m. at the famous eatery on Main Street and Manchester Avenue. She would not identify the victim.
Rock, 30, whose real name was Rakim Allen, had been at the restaurant with his girlfriend, who had posted a location-tagged photo in a since-deleted Instagram post.
Muniz said a suspect brandished a firearm inside the restaurant and demanded items from the victim. Sources told The Times that Rock was targeted for his jewelry. The victim was shot almost immediately by the assailant during the robbery, Muniz said.
According to a law enforcement source, Los Angeles Police Department investigators are examining security video from inside the restaurant to identify the shooter.
They also are checking surrounding businesses to see whether security systems captured any images of the suspect leaving on foot or in a vehicle. Investigators were processing evidence Monday night, Muniz said. She declined to comment on what was recovered.
Rock was born Dec. 9, 1991, in Philadelphia. He told Paper Magazine he was inspired to make music at age 19 after hearing Drake’s decade-defining album “Take Care.” Rock’s ability to blend melodies with his rapping made him a natural fit for hip-hop’s next evolution.
The LAPD’s Southeast Community Police Station, which covers the area where Monday’s shooting occurred, has seen 34 homicides this year through Sept. 3, compared with 35 over the same period last year.
Rock said that after his oldest brother was killed, he changed — becoming more on edge and conscious of how suddenly a situation could turn deadly.