Jacksonville rapper, Lil Poppa (real name Janarious Mykel Wheeler), has reportedly passed away at the age of 25. The Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed his death as occurring at 11:23 a.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The hip-hop community and fans are currently mourning his sudden loss and sharing condolences for his family. As people are searching for the cause of his untimely demise, speculations regarding a possible s**cide have surfaced. Many felt that Lil Poppa took the alleged extreme step because he was unable to get over the deaths of his closest friends.
How did Lil Poppa’s closest friends die?
Lil Poppa faced the most devastating event of his life in 2018. At that time, the rapper became a victim of a shooting in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. He was just 18 when he and his friends faced the horrific incident. Lil Poppa and two of his closest pals got shot; however, he survived, but the other two died. The incident left a mark on Lil Poppa’s heart, and he never recovered from the trauma of witnessing the tragic murders.
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