PONTIAC, Michigan — A 17-year-old Michigan teenager has been charged in relation to the shooting death of a man who gained notoriety for exposing alleged sexual predators online. The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Thursday that the teen, who was 16 years old at the time of the September 29 incident, has been charged as a juvenile with homicide, carrying a concealed weapon, and felony firearm.
The victim, Robert Wayne Lee II, known as “Boopac Shakur” on the internet, was fatally shot inside Universal Coney Island restaurant. The teenager’s identity has not been revealed.
Security footage from the scene depicted Lee entering the restaurant around 10:30 p.m., where the teenage defendant and his 18-year-old friend were already seated. The footage then showed Lee approaching the friend, prompting the younger teen to draw a semi-automatic gun from his waistband and fire multiple rounds. The pair fled the scene, with Lee succumbing to his injuries at a local hospital.
Prosecutor Karen McDonald referred to the incident as a “tragic event” and emphasized the importance of preventing gun violence. In a statement, she said, “A physical altercation turned deadly almost instantly because this individual chose to illegally carry a concealed, deadly weapon, and then to use it. The vast majority of gun violence deaths, including this one, are preventable.”
According to reports, Lee had gained a following online by organizing meetings with adult men while posing as a teenage girl in order to expose potential pedophiles. The teenage defendant, who has been in custody since the September 29 shooting, also faces additional charges related to a shooting on September 20 outside a supermarket, including felony firearm and assault with intent to murder.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office outlined the potential penalties for the charges, with the homicide charge carrying a sentence of up to 15 years, the concealed weapon charge potentially adding another 5 years, and the assault with intent to murder charge carrying a potential life sentence. The felony firearm charge carries a mandatory 2-year sentence.
The investigation into the fatal shooting is ongoing, and authorities have yet to disclose any further details about the motive or circumstances surrounding the incident.