Identified! CA - LOS ANGELES, Malibu Lagoon State Beach, Male body inside black plastic barrel floating in the lagoon, 31 July 2023 - Javonnta Murphy

[dotr]

Aug 1 2023

Malibu lifeguard cracks open suspiciously heavy barrel, finds a body

The barrel was first spotted Sunday, but wasn’t opened until Monday morning

www.thestar.com

By Nathan Solis Los Angeles Times, Richard Winton
LOS ANGELES—A man’s body was found in a barrel at Malibu Lagoon State Beach on Monday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
''The barrel was first spotted Sunday, but wasn’t opened until Monday morning, Lt. Hugo Reynaga of the sheriff’s homicide bureau said at a news conference.
Around 3 p.m. on Sunday, a maintenance worker from the state park saw the black plastic barrel floating in the lagoon and brought it in with a kayak, Reynaga said. The maintenance worker didn’t open it.

On Monday morning, about 10 a.m., a lifeguard on duty saw the same barrel — now back in the lagoon — swam out and brought it onto the beach, where he opened it and discovered the body, Reynaga said. A source familiar with the investigation who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly said the barrel was opened because of its suspicious weight.
The origin of the barrel is still to be determined, he added, and it’s unclear whether it came in on the tide.''
.................................

''Former Malibu Mayor Jefferson Wagner said he passed by the lagoon Sunday evening and spotted the barrel farther north from where it was found and closer to the Pacific Coast Highway bridge overlooking the lagoon.
“I thought it was a toxic waste container when I saw it,” Wagner said.
Wagner, who has owned Zuma Jay Surf Shop for decades, said this was the first time he could recall anything like this happening in the community.

“This is not what happens in Malibu,” Wagner said, adding that he was “deeply disturbed. This is not a common occurrence. I mean, bodies in a barrel is just sad.”

 

[dotr]

''Aug 1, 2023
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the discovery of a man’s body inside a 55-gallon drum at Malibu Lagoon on Monday. Mary Beth McDade reports for KTLA 5 News at 10, July 31, 2023''

 

[dotr]

Body of Naked Man Found Inside Plastic Barrel Washed Up on Malibu Beach

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has launched an investigation after a man was found dead inside a plastic barrel found on Malibu Lagoon State Beach on Monday morning

people.com

rbbm.
''The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a release that a lifeguard on the popular California beach noticed a 55-gallon plastic barrel floating in the lagoon at around 10:10 a.m. Monday.


When the lifeguard retrieved the barrel drum and opened it, he found a dead, naked Black male inside.


Investigators pronounced the victim dead at the scene and have launched an investigation into the circumstances of his death, added the release.


Lt. Hugo Reynaga with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide bureau said in a press conference per Associated Press that the barrel had been spotted in the lagoon over the weekend prior to the lifeguard opening it.''

 

[whitelilac]

More here:

Authorities trying to identify man found in barrel in Malibu Lagoon

Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are working to identity a man found dead inside a 55-gallon drum in Malibu Lagoon on Monday. A park maintenance worker first saw the …

ktla.com

 

[iulia]

Body of Man Found in Drum in Malibu Identified | KFI AM 640 | LA Local News

MALIBU (CNS) - A 32-year-old man whose body was discovered inside a 55- gallon drum on a beach in Malibu was identified Wednesday.

kfiam640.iheart.com

A 32-year-old man whose body was discovered inside a 55- gallon drum on a beach in Malibu was identified Wednesday.

Javonnta Murphy was identified as the victim by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office.

 

[GMS]

Here's an additional story from Inside Edition that shed's a little more information about the identified victim, Javonnta Murphy.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“I’m a strong Black man, but this, this is hurtful. I just want to know why. He didn’t deserve it,” Javonnie Murphy said.

“They were trying to get rid of him. They put him in a thing like that and threw him in the ocean. They were trying to get rid of him,” Javonnie Murphy said.

Father mourns ‘lovable' son found dead in barrel in Malibu beach

Javonnie Murphy, found dead in a barrel in Malibu, was “lovable” and always tried to set a good example, his grieving father told NBC4, as he looked for answers to why someone would kill his son.

www.nbclosangeles.com

 

[Susikatze]

Condolences to his family. Looks like he ran into the wrong people for whatever reason (barrel is really gang or mafia style, but maybe not exclusively so). I hope justice is served soon and the family gets answers.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Patrick Nelson, a family friend, told the Los Angeles Times that Murphy had grown up in South Los Angeles with four brothers and was an aspiring rapper.

Man whose body was found in a barrel in Malibu had been shot in the head, coroner says

A coroner has determined that a man whose naked body was found inside a barrel in Malibu, California, last week was shot in the head.

www.newsday.com

 

[sds71]

Pop Smoke's murder may be related to body found in barrel

Los Angeles cops are probing whether Javonnta Murphy, 32, may have been killed in retaliation for rapper Pop Smoke's 2020 murder.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[dotr]

Man whose body was found in barrel in Malibu was shot in head, coroner says

A man whose naked body was found inside a barrel in Malibu, California, last week was shot in the head, a coroner has determined

torontosun.com

'MALIBU, Calif. — A man whose naked body was found inside a barrel in Malibu, California, last week was shot in the head, a coroner has determined.'

It was not known how long the body had been in the drum.

Patrick Nelson, a family friend, told the Los Angeles Times that Murphy had grown up in South Los Angeles with four brothers and was an aspiring rapper.''

 

[dotr]

Wondering why Javonnta was naked when he was put into the barrel?
Javonnta Murphy, 32, was killed with a gunshot to the dead in Los Angeles, more than three years after Pop Smoke’s murder.Javonnta Murphy / Instagram
rbbm

Rapper found dead in barrel may be linked to Pop Smoke’s murder: officials

Javonnta Murphy’s younger brother was previously arrested in connection with Pop Smoke’s murder.

nypost.com

'Authorities are investigating whether the man whose naked body was found stuffed in a barrel at a Florida beach was killed in retaliation for the 2020 murder of Brooklyn-born rapper Pop Smoke.'

''Murphy was the older brother of Jaquan Murphy, who was one of five suspects arrested in the February 2020 slaying of 20-year-old rapper Pop Smoke during a home-invasion robbery, reported TMZ.

Jaquan Murphy, then aged 21, was initially charged with attempted murder in the rapper’s killing but he was later cleared in that case.''

"Jaquan Murphy, now aged 24, is currently awaiting trial for an unrelated murder in Los Angeles County, reported TMZ.

His older brother, Javonnta Murphy, was an aspiring hip-hop artist who had just moved into his first apartment in Sylmar before he was killed, according to a family friend.

Patrick Nelson told the Los Angeles Times that Javonnta was not involved in gang activity and had no known enemies.''

 

[cvaldez1975]

Pop Smoke's murder may be related to body found in barrel

Los Angeles cops are probing whether Javonnta Murphy, 32, may have been killed in retaliation for rapper Pop Smoke's 2020 murder.

www.dailymail.co.uk

damn!

 

[cvaldez1975]

his fb

Javonnta Murphy

Javonnta Murphy is on Facebook. Join Facebook to connect with Javonnta Murphy and others you may know. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.

www.facebook.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[cvaldez1975]

Suspects In The Murder Of Javonnta Marshann Murphy Charged - Canyon News

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department announced on Friday, October 27 that two suspect responsible for the murder of Javonnta Marshann Murphy

www.canyon-news.com

 

[Melt71]

Goodness (from the article linked directly above) I don't think bear spray is a weapon we automatically think of in attempted robberies...
.
Joshua Lee Simmons and Dennis Eugene Vance were arrested in connection with the murder of Murphy....

Simmons was charged with Murder – 187 P.C., Personal use of a firearm allegation – 12022.58 P.C., and Criminal Threats – 422(a) P.C. He was also charged with Attempted Robbery – 664/211 P.C., and two counts of Criminal Threats – 422(a) P.C., with a Personal Use of Bear Spray allegation – 12022(b)(1) P.C., in connection with the Attempted Robbery that occurred in El Monte on September 2.

Vance was charged with one count of Accessory After the Fact – 32 P.C., in connection with the murder of Murphy. Both suspects in the case are known to be acquaintances of the victim.

At this time the motive in this case is unknown.

 

[Aurora90]

Wondering why Javonnta was naked when he was put into the barrel?
Javonnta Murphy, 32, was killed with a gunshot to the dead in Los Angeles, more than three years after Pop Smoke’s murder.Javonnta Murphy / Instagram
rbbm

Rapper found dead in barrel may be linked to Pop Smoke’s murder: officials

Javonnta Murphy’s younger brother was previously arrested in connection with Pop Smoke’s murder.

nypost.com

'Authorities are investigating whether the man whose naked body was found stuffed in a barrel at a Florida beach was killed in retaliation for the 2020 murder of Brooklyn-born rapper Pop Smoke.'

''Murphy was the older brother of Jaquan Murphy, who was one of five suspects arrested in the February 2020 slaying of 20-year-old rapper Pop Smoke during a home-invasion robbery, reported TMZ.

Jaquan Murphy, then aged 21, was initially charged with attempted murder in the rapper’s killing but he was later cleared in that case.''

"Jaquan Murphy, now aged 24, is currently awaiting trial for an unrelated murder in Los Angeles County, reported TMZ.

His older brother, Javonnta Murphy, was an aspiring hip-hop artist who had just moved into his first apartment in Sylmar before he was killed, according to a family friend.

Patrick Nelson told the Los Angeles Times that Javonnta was not involved in gang activity and had no known enemies.''

Why should he be killed for someone else's actions? This is so sad.

 

[cheemsg]

Wondering why Javonnta was naked when he was put into the barrel?
Javonnta Murphy, 32, was killed with a gunshot to the dead in Los Angeles, more than three years after Pop Smoke’s murder.Javonnta Murphy / Instagram
rbbm

Rapper found dead in barrel may be linked to Pop Smoke’s murder: officials

Javonnta Murphy’s younger brother was previously arrested in connection with Pop Smoke’s murder.

nypost.com

'Authorities are investigating whether the man whose naked body was found stuffed in a barrel at a Florida beach was killed in retaliation for the 2020 murder of Brooklyn-born rapper Pop Smoke.'

''Murphy was the older brother of Jaquan Murphy, who was one of five suspects arrested in the February 2020 slaying of 20-year-old rapper Pop Smoke during a home-invasion robbery, reported TMZ.

Jaquan Murphy, then aged 21, was initially charged with attempted murder in the rapper’s killing but he was later cleared in that case.''

"Jaquan Murphy, now aged 24, is currently awaiting trial for an unrelated murder in Los Angeles County, reported TMZ.

His older brother, Javonnta Murphy, was an aspiring hip-hop artist who had just moved into his first apartment in Sylmar before he was killed, according to a family friend.

Patrick Nelson told the Los Angeles Times that Javonnta was not involved in gang activity and had no known enemies.''

Because evidence like hairs etc could fall into the clothing, it's easier for the killer to strip the victim to hide evidence.