The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has determined the cause of death for Javonnta Murphy, the man whose body was found inside a barrel last month in Malibu.
According to coroner’s online records, Murphy died from a gunshot would to the head. The preliminary autopsy report listed the manner of death as homicide and said the case remains open.
Murphy, 32, lived in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles and was an aspiring singer-songwriter and rapper.
Related Story: Javonnta Murphy’s Family Demands Answers After His Body Was Found in Barrel
On Monday, July 31, lifeguards spotted the 55-gallon plastic barrel in a lagoon at Malibu State Park. When they opened it, there was a man’s nude body inside.
“They pulled it to shore and inside they discovered a deceased human body,” Sgt. Christopher Soderlund of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department told reporters.
Authorities said maintenance workers noticed the barrel floating in the water a day earlier, but left it to be retrieved the next morning.
The coroner’s office identified the remains on Aug 2.
Murphy’s father, Javonnie Murphy, spoke with Los Angeles news station NBC 4 and said he saw his son four days before the body was discovered.
“I’m looking for answers, I want to know what happened to my baby,” he said.
Murphy was the father of a 10-year-old son, his partner Vanetta Smith told ABC7.
Homicide detectives are continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding Murphy’s death.
TMZ has reported the killing may be connected to the 2020 murder of rapper Pop Smoke.
The outlet said Murphy’s brother, Jaquan Murphy was one of five suspects arrested in connection with the rapper’s fatal shooting during a home invasion robbery in the Hollywood Hills. Jaquan was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder, but was later cleared of all charges, the outlet reported.
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Javonnta Murphy Cause of Death Released by LA County Coroner