State faces trial in 2020 Jacksonville rapper's murder

The Trial of the 2020 Murder of a Local Rapper Continues

The trial for the 2020 murder of Charles McCormick Jr., known as Lil Buck, is reaching its conclusion. On Tuesday, the state called its final witness to the stand in the case that has drawn significant attention from the community and media.

Lil Buck was shot and killed outside an Arlington shopping center on January 15, 2020. Hakeem Robinson, also known as Ksoo, and Leroy Whitaker Jr., known as ATK Scotty, are both charged with first-degree murder in connection with the incident. According to the prosecution, Robinson, Whitaker, and Dominique Barner were in a Nissan Altima on the day of the shooting. It is alleged that Whitaker and Barner broke into a woman’s house and held her hostage for over an hour.

Sgt. Chris Smith, a lead homicide detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, testified about how he linked Robinson to the crime. He explained that DNA analysis of items found in the car provided key evidence. During the testimony, the state attorney asked Sgt. Smith if the results of the DNA tests led to an investigatory lead.

Sgt. Smith confirmed that there was a lead, specifically pointing out that a fingerprint found on a Glock handgun matched Hakeem Robinson. Additionally, DNA from the woman’s clothing was linked to Dominique Barner and Leroy Whitaker Jr.

However, the defense attorney for Hakeem Robinson raised questions about the reliability of the fingerprint evidence. Chris DeCoste, the defense attorney, pointed out that there was no way to determine when the fingerprint on the gun was left. Sgt. Smith agreed, stating that it could not be confirmed that the print was left on the gun on January 15.

It is worth noting that Robinson was not arrested immediately after the DNA evidence was obtained. Instead, he was arrested several months later after Dominique Barner cooperated with investigators and agreed to testify against both Robinson and Whitaker.

Whitaker’s defense attorney highlighted another point during the trial. She noted that the woman who was held hostage was only able to identify Dominique Barner as one of the individuals involved and never identified Whitaker. Sgt. Smith confirmed this detail, adding that the woman did not recognize the second person in her home.

The defense team for Hakeem Robinson called three witnesses to the stand, two of whom remain unidentified for safety reasons. One of the identifiable witnesses was Sgt. Howell with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The defense claims that Sgt. Howell saw Robinson on January 14, 2020, the day before the shooting. This is significant because some witnesses described the shooter as being under 6 feet tall, while Robinson is listed as 6'3" in court records.

During the trial, the state attorney's office dropped the home invasion robbery charge against Leroy Whitaker Jr. and merged it with his burglary charge. Whitaker’s defense attorney stated she will not be calling any witnesses and that Whitaker himself will not testify during the trial.

The judge also denied a motion for acquittal on the charges for both Robinson and Whitaker. Testimony is set to continue on Wednesday.

As the trial progresses, the evidence and arguments presented by both the prosecution and defense will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the case. The community continues to watch closely as the legal process unfolds.