A 19 year old faces multiple charges after a violent home invasion at the rapper’s Florida residence
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the violent home invasion at Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Florida residence, which reportedly left the rapper’s mother shaken and injured while he was not at home. Pedro Rodriguez, 19, was taken into custody and charged with armed home invasion robbery with a firearm, false imprisonment, grand theft and possession of marijuana.
Authorities say Rodriguez is believed to be just one of several suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing. The arrest comes weeks after the disturbing incident allegedly unfolded in November at the Florida home belonging to Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez.
His mother, Natividad Perez-Hernandez, was home when four masked and armed suspects allegedly forced their way inside. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Teri Barbera said deputies were dispatched to the residence around 10 p.m. following reports of a home invasion burglary in progress.
Mother restrained during attack
During the attack, one suspect allegedly physically restrained Perez-Hernandez while others ransacked the property, demanding she reveal where cash and keys were located. The 60 year old woman was left shaken by the experience as the intruders searched through the residence looking for valuables.
A K-9 unit was deployed to search for the suspects but was unable to locate them. Authorities believe the group may have fled the scene in a vehicle before deputies arrived, making their escape before law enforcement could establish a perimeter around the property.
At the time of the invasion, the rapper was notably not at home. Tekashi 6ix9ine took to Instagram Stories to clear up fake news and rumors, explaining that he remains on house arrest and had been granted rare permission to leave the house for work.
Rapper addresses the incident
The performer explained that he is on house arrest, showing his ankle monitor to emphasize the point. He added that he believes the suspects took advantage of his absence after seeing him livestreaming with YouTuber Jack Doherty, which made it clear he was not at the residence.
Tekashi 6ix9ine said the suspects knew he was not home, calling the attack cowardly and condemning the decision to target his mother. He emphasized that putting a 60 year old woman in danger like that crosses a line and represents an especially troubling aspect of the crime.
The rapper also acknowledged that his public profile and controversial past may make him an easy target, but insisted there was nothing admirable about the crime. He stressed that regardless of how people feel about him personally, targeting family members in violent home invasions should never be considered acceptable behavior.
Public reaction and safety concerns
Tekashi 6ix9ine pointed out that if this happened to anyone’s favorite artist or actor, nobody would think that was cool. He emphasized there is no respect in attacking someone’s elderly mother during a home invasion, regardless of any controversies surrounding the celebrity themselves.
The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns for high profile figures and their families. Celebrities who maintain public social media presences and share their locations through livestreams may inadvertently provide information that criminals can exploit to plan attacks when they know the target is away from home.
Controversial legal history
The arrest comes amid renewed scrutiny of the rapper’s legal history. In 2018, he was branded a snitch after cooperating with federal prosecutors in a sweeping New York gang case, testifying against members of the Bloods and detailing violent crimes including robberies and drug trafficking.
Facing a potential sentence of 47 years to life, he ultimately served two years in custody after striking a cooperation deal, before being released to house arrest in 2020. His cooperation with law enforcement created significant controversy within hip hop circles and may have contributed to making him a target for criminal activity.
The rapper’s decision to testify against gang members in exchange for a reduced sentence generated intense backlash and ongoing safety concerns. His current house arrest status limits his ability to move freely and protect himself and his family from potential retaliation or opportunistic crimes like the November home invasion.
Investigators continue working to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the attack on Perez-Hernandez. The arrest of Rodriguez represents an important step in the case, but authorities acknowledge that multiple individuals participated in the violent home invasion and remain at large.