Jacksonville, FL — Jacksonville rapper Hakeem Robinson, better known by his stage name Ksoo, has been found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the 2020 shooting death of 23-year-old Charles McCormick Jr.
The verdict was delivered Thursday after just over three hours of jury deliberation, concluding a seven-day trial that also found co-defendant Leroy Whitaker Jr.—Ksoo’s cousin—guilty of the same charge earlier that morning.
The two men were tried simultaneously with separate juries seated for each, hearing identical testimony but rendering independent verdicts. Both were accused in the broad daylight shooting at an Arlington shopping center on January 15, 2020, a crime witnessed by an off-duty police officer.
The officer testified that the gunman stood over McCormick and fired multiple rounds from a rifle before fleeing the scene in a Nissan sedan. A chase ensued, ending with the vehicle crashing nearby. Police say three suspects fled, with two running into a home, holding the homeowner hostage, and eventually calling for someone to pick them up.
Sentencing for both Robinson and Whitaker is scheduled for September 8.
Robinson still faces another murder trial in the 2019 shooting of a 16-year-old boy, which is expected to proceed now that this case has concluded.
The high-profile case has drawn significant attention due to Ksoo’s notoriety in the Jacksonville rap scene and previous brushes with the law. His social media presence and music videos have also come under scrutiny as prosecutors claimed they glorified violence and referenced real-life crimes.
Stay tuned to Jacksonville Today for updates on the sentencing and Ksoo’s upcoming murder trial.
