A California appeals court has affirmed the murder conviction of a 44-year-old man who orchestrated a deadly robbery that resulted in the killing of rapper Rakim Allen, professionally known as PnB Rock, at a Los Angeles restaurant in 2022.
Freddie Lee Trone was found guilty of murder and two counts of robbery for his role in the fatal shooting that occurred at a Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles restaurant in South Los Angeles. The court sentenced him to 31 years to life in prison.
The incident unfolded when Trone’s 17-year-old son, identified in court documents only as J.T. due to his status as a minor, entered the restaurant wearing a ski mask and carrying a firearm. Security footage captured the sequence of events, showing Trone dropping his son off outside the establishment.
Inside the restaurant, Allen was dining with his fiancée, identified as Stephanie S., when J.T. approached their table. The couple was wearing approximately $500,000 worth of jewelry at the time. The teenager shot Allen multiple times, stole the jewelry, and fled the scene in his father’s waiting Buick, which police later discovered burned.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Trone played a crucial role in planning and executing the robbery. Text messages sent by Trone to his son the day after the shooting included statements such as “Just hold tight. Everything coming together” and “Just stay calm and cool. No crazy talk. All good vibes. I love you.”
A co-defendant, Tremont Jones, a former employee at the restaurant, was also convicted on two counts of robbery. Prosecutors argued that Jones spotted Allen and his fiancée in the restaurant and contacted Trone. Security footage showed Jones handing Trone an object that prosecutors identified as the weapon used in the murder, though Trone claimed during trial that it was marijuana.
During his testimony, Trone stated he was afraid of his son having weapons, describing J.T. as someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder and a mood disorder who “goes off and on” medication and “can go from cool to upset in a matter of minutes.” Trone also testified that his son had previously threatened his biological mother.
The teenager was charged with murder but was found not competent to stand trial and placed in a juvenile facility.
In his appeal, Trone challenged the sufficiency of evidence supporting his murder conviction, arguing that he never entered the restaurant and there was no proof he instructed his son to shoot the victim. The three-judge appellate panel rejected this argument, finding substantial evidence that Trone was a major participant who acted with reckless indifference to human life.
The judges noted that the jury could reasonably conclude Trone had a vital role in planning the robbery during his meeting with Jones outside the restaurant, which occurred shortly after Jones witnessed the valuable jewelry worn by the victims. The court also emphasized that Trone’s text messages to his son after the robbery suggested he controlled and directed the teenager’s actions.
The appellate panel particularly highlighted the danger Trone created by arming his mentally unstable son, whom he admitted was dangerous and should never have access to firearms, and sending him alone into the restaurant to commit the robbery.
Jones received a 12-year sentence for his involvement and also appealed, arguing the trial court improperly used his prior conviction to impose a harsher sentence. The appeals court rejected this argument as well.
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