Thousands Gather to Mourn XXXTentacion

Loudspeakers blasted songs by the late rapper XXXTentacion as thousands of fans chanting his lyrics lined up for hours at a Florida stadium Wednesday to see the performer laid out in a casket, two braids flowing over the side. XXXTentacion was gunned down last week at the age of 20. His sudden death shocked fans and unleashed praise for a rapper described as both a gift and troubled figure in the world of music. Security guards flanked the casket, which was surrounded by black roses and silver leaves as a row of spotlights lit the stage at the 20,000-seat BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., the AP reports. Family members and friends gathered in a roped-off area and wore black T-shirts that said "Bad" on front and "No more pain" on the back.

The somber crowd grew rowdy as popular songs came on and many started jumping and raising their hands in the air as they shouted lyrics. On the way into the arena as well as on stage near the casket, many fans wept openly, held hands, and hugged each other. A fan who identified himself as Choice Bison said on his way in that XXXTentacion stood for hope and energy. "What was his gift? Fearlessness," Bison said. The performer was shot while leaving a south Florida motorcycle shop in his luxury electric sports car in what police said was an apparent robbery. Dedrick Williams, 22, was arrested last week and charged with the rapper's slaying. He has not yet entered a plea. The Broward Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that detectives want to question another man, 22-year-old Robert Allen.

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