Florida Rapper Hakeem “Ksoo” Robinson Convicted in 2020 Gang-Related Murder

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A Florida jury has found rapper Hakeem Armani Robinson, known as “Ksoo,” guilty of first-degree murder in the 2020 killing of Charles “Lilbuck” McCormick. 

The 26-year-old Robinson was convicted after jurors deliberated for three and a half hours on July 31. He now faces a mandatory life sentence under Florida law. His co-defendant, Leroy “ATK Scotty” Whitaker, 24, was also found guilty.

The conviction stems from a violent gang feud between two rival Jacksonville-based groups, ATK (Attack to Kill) and 6Block, and follows a trial that revealed a complex web of retaliation, gang affiliation, and social media provocation.

Prosecutors argued that the murder was an act of revenge after Robinson’s stepbrother, Willie Addison, was killed in a shooting attributed to members of 6Block. Addison’s death occurred in 2019 as he left a club, a shooting that also injured Robinson’s father, brother, and cousin.

McCormick, believed to be affiliated with 6Block, reportedly mocked Addison’s death in a rap “diss track.” Prosecutors stated this provocation fueled Robinson’s motive to kill. They said Robinson, Whitaker, and an accomplice, Dominique Barner, followed McCormick to a temp agency in January 2020. When McCormick exited the building, he was shot in broad daylight. The attackers then fled, committing a home-invasion robbery during their escape.

Prosecutors presented a range of evidence, including DNA analysis, dashcam and surveillance video, and social media posts where Robinson allegedly boasted about the killing. One key piece of the prosecution’s case was testimony from Robinson’s father, who confessed his involvement in the crime and identified his son as the shooter. He described testifying as “the hardest thing” he had ever done.

The defense contested the identification, arguing that Robinson’s physical stature did not match the shooter seen on video. They brought in witnesses, including a police officer, to support the claim that Robinson was too tall and heavy to be the gunman. Defense attorneys also noted that the murder weapon was never recovered and that Robinson’s cell phone data did not link him to the scene.

Despite the defense’s arguments, the jury found the state’s case compelling. State Attorney Melissa Nelson praised the outcome, stating, “Five years ago, Hakeem Robinson and Leroy Whitaker stalked a man and gunned him down in broad daylight because of disputes and drill rap. Today, a jury held them accountable for their brazen crimes.”

This conviction adds to a growing list of criminal proceedings connected to the ATK and 6Block gang feud, which has drawn national attention due to its ties to the Florida rap scene. Robinson still faces another trial in the 2020 killing of Adrian Gainer, an individual mentioned in a viral track by fellow ATK member Yungeen Ace.