Slain rapper XXXTentacion gets sendoff at memorial in Florida hockey arena

We love you man
A six-hour, open-casket viewing was held for fans of South Florida rapper XXXTentacion. Around a thousand fans, who came from all over, waited outside for a couple hours or longer to get in.
ANDREA MELENDEZ/NEWS-PRESS.COM
SUNRISE, Fla. — Hundreds of fans gathered Wednesday at a public memorial in a hockey arena here for rising young rapper XXXTentacion and thousands more were expected to view the body of the murdered young singer.

About 1,000 people were in attendance as of noon but officials at the BT&T Center arena said up to 19,000 more people were expected throughout the day. Phones and other electronics were not permitted inside the arena.

XXXTentacion performs during the second day of the
XXXTentacion performs during the second day of the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami on May 6, 2017. The rapper was shot and killed on … Show more

MATIAS J. OCNER/MIAMI HERALD/TNS VIA GETTY IMAGES
As fans queued to pay their respects, Broward County detectives searched for a possible second suspect in XXXTentacion’s murder. On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office posted a bulletin informing the public that they are trying to locate and question Robert Allen, 22. It says he was captured on surveillance video outside the motorcycle dealership on June 18, the same day the rapper was fatally shot.

Anneyah Lawson, 14, of St. Petersburg, Fla., holds
Anneyah Lawson, 14, of St. Petersburg, Fla., holds up a sweatshirt with an image of slain rapper XXXTentacion at his memorial on June 27, 2018, … Show more

BRYNN ANDERSON/ AP
Last week, prosecutors arrested Dedrick Williams, 22, and charged him with first-degree murder in the case. He is currently being held without bail in the Broward County jail.

The memorial viewing for the slain rapper was held at the BB&T Center, a 20,000-seat arena in Sunrise, Fla., that is home to the Florida Panthers hockey team.

The memorial was organized by his family and fans and advertised on his Instagram account last week. "Come say your final goodbye," it read.

A tribute video of the rapper played during the first hour of the viewing, and celebrity guests were expected .

Fans started lining up as early at 7 a.m.; many drove from all over the state to see XXXTentacion one last time. Outside, some fans danced to XXXTentacion’s songs blasting out from the front doors of the arena.

Others waited patiently in blistering heat before they were allowed inside in groups of about 50 to 100. They were led down to the stage while XXXTentacion’s music videos and videos from his social-media accounts flooded screens.

They were allowed on stage a few people at a time; there some grabbed their mouths as they passed by the casket containing the rapper's body, dressed in a dark blue jacket and brown pants. Other fans ran out sobbing after viewing the body.

Rafael Correa, 19 of Kissimmee, Fla., dances to the
Rafael Correa, 19 of Kissimmee, Fla., dances to the music of XXXTentacion as fans waited to get into his memorial viewing on June 27, 2018, … Show more

ANDREA MELENDEZ/THE NEWS-PRESS/USA TODAY
One of the fans, Alexandra Jaime, grasped onto her boyfriend’s arm as they walked past the casket, flanked by black roses and metallic leaf displays spaced around the stage.The couple came from North Miami Beach around 9 a.m. were among the first fans who came to pay their respects.

“At first I was completely shocked, when I found out what happened to him,” Jaime said. “Nobody was expecting this.”

Kelsey Manns, 17, and her friend Samantha Steinman, 18, were among the first ten people who showed up to the memorial on Wednesday.

“He let his fans know that we weren’t alone, so we’re here for him and his family,” Manns said. “He comforted us in a way.”

Vincent Oliveri, 19, of Sarasota, who got up at 6 a.m. to get to the viewing, said he felt like he owed it to XXXTentacion. He said he was glad phones and cameras were banned from the arena.