XXXTentacion death: Police believe murdered rapper was victim of ‘random robbery’, claims attorney

Controversial entertainer was shot dead at motorbike dealership in South Florida

Detectives believe murdered rapper XXXTentacion may have been the victim of a “random robbery,” his lawyer has said.

Attorney David Bogenschutz said investigators also told him the 20-year-old musician visited a bank shortly before he was shot at a South Florida motorbike dealership on Monday and may have withdrawn cash to make a purchase.

XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, was exiting the shop's parking lot in his luxury BMW electric car when the attack took place.

No arrests have been made in connection with the killing.

The Broward Sheriff's Office said deputies are searching for two suspects who fled in a dark SUV.

Candles, a teddy bear and a large, signed sympathy card lined the front porch of the rapper’s home in Parkland, the same suburb of Fort Lauderdale where a gunman fatally shot 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February.

On Tuesday afternoon, a steady stream of fans had placed candles, flowers and teddy bears on the pavement near where he was shot, and decorated the pavement with chalk art.

“He had some legal allegations before, but the last year he had only been a positive influence on people's lives, making hit Billboard songs,” said Myles O'Hara, one of the young fans who descended on the neighbourhood to pay their respects.

“He has been a kind person. You could look at his face and smile and he was just a normal kid like us. His style is almost hard to explain.

“He had an angry tone. He meant everything he said, even the most simplistic words. It just came off his tongue like nothing. He was speaking his mind.”

The entertainer had been widely touted as a future superstar of the rap genre.

In March, he secured number one album in the US with his second release ? and had a top 10 hit with Sad! in the same month.

However, his career was also dogged by controversy and at the time of his death he was facing charges over accusations he beat up his pregnant ex-girlfriend.

In an interview earlier this month with the Miami New Times, XXXTentacion described his upbringing, which included seeing his mother infrequently and being raised by friends, family and babysitters.

His mother bought him clothes, phones and other gifts. He said he used violence so she would engage with him.

In one video on social media, he said: “If worse things come to worse, I f***ing die a tragic death or some s***, and I'm not able to see out my dreams, I at least want to know that the kids perceive my message and were able to make something of themselves.”

Additional reporting by AP