JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Attorneys handling the case of two men accused of killing a local rapper over a diss track finished giving jurors their opening statements Wednesday evening.
Charles McCormick Jr. – better known as ‘Lil Buck’ — was shot and killed in 2020 in what investigators believe was a gang-related attack outside an Arlington shopping center.
Hakeem Robinson - also known as Ksoo - and Leroy Whitaker are being tried together with separate juries.
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Robinson is charged with
- 1st degree murder
While Whitaker is charged with
- 1st degree murder
- burglary with assault or battery
- home invasion robbery
Both Robinson and Whitaker are alleged to be a part of the ATK gang.
Investigators allege Robinson and Whitaker sought to kill McCormick Jr. because he made a rap song that dissed the late rapper Willie Addision (Big Goon), who is also Robinson’s half-brother.
During opening statements, both Robinson’s and Whitaker’s attorneys alluded that the state’s evidence in this case came as a result of plea deals, including with Robinson’s dad, Abdul Robinson Sr., and suspect Dominique Barner.
“You’re going to learn that Blue (Abdul Robinson Sr.), this ain’t his first time cooperating with law enforcement. He’s done that before. So he has experience. He knows that when he’s in trouble and he’s caught, if I say what the government wants to hear, I get out. He’s done it before and he’s going to do it again in this courtroom,” said Tara Kawass, Defense attorney for Hakeem Robinson.
“What you’re going to learn is that Dominique Barner came in on January 15th, and he told just enough about himself to get him off this case,” said Julie Schlax, Attorney for Leroy Whitaker. “They let him go.”
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During the prosecution’s opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Joel Cooper said that the evidence will show the motivation behind the murder.
“This was a group of individuals who knew one another, we’re close to one another, that were family. Every single one of them that participated in this crime, were members of ATK. The local rap group. All but one of them were related by blood,” said Joel Cooper, Assistant State Attorney.
Day 4 of the trial continues tomorrow. Action News Jax will be in the courtroom.
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