Lil Poppa's Cause of Passing Revealed

He survived an accident. He made the call. And then, in a moment no one saw coming, everything changed.

The music world is still reeling from the loss of Janarious Mykel Wheeler, known to us all as Lil Poppa, who died at the young age of 25 on February 18, 2026.

While the pain is fresh, the story behind his final moments has taken a haunting turn as new details describe a seemingly simple situation that turned into a nightmare.

A Crash That Did Not Seem Troublesome

Hapeville Police Chief Bruce Hedley reported that the rapper crashed his car in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 85, just south of Hapeville, Georgia.

The incident itself did not appear catastrophic. In fact, the vehicle was still drivable, and it all could've been resolved and forgotten quickly as an inconvenience.

After the accident, Lil Poppa reached out to his manager to ask for guidance. On the surface, the call felt completely routine.

But that phone call would become the last conversation before everything spiraled.

A Meeting with His Manager

During the conversation with his manager, she told him they would meet at a nearby Hilton Hotel parking lot.

When they arrived, he stayed inside his car. She stood outside, speaking to him through the rolled-down window.

Police say it remains unclear what they discussed in those final moments. But something shifted.

And then, in a split second, the situation turned from concerning to irreversible.

A Sudden And Devastating Decision

At some point during the conversation, Lil Poppa grabbed a handgun. Authorities say he put it to his head and pulled the trigger.

An off-duty officer working at the hotel placed an urgent call to 911. From there, emergency teams rushed the rapper to Grady Hospital.

Unfortunately, there was nothig medical professionals could do, and he was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m. ET.

There was no suicide note left behind.

The News That Shocked Fans

When news first broke that Lil Poppa had died, his cause of death was not immediately released, according to TMZ.

So, fans were left confused, especially because the rapper had just dropped new music days earlier.

In August 2025, he released his 16-song album "Almost Normal Again." Just last Friday, February 13, he put out a new single titled "Out of Town Bae."

He was also scheduled to perform next month in New Orleans. Nothing about his recent moves suggested a desperate goodbye.

Signed to Yo Gotti's Collective Music Group, Lil Poppa had steadily built a loyal following over the past few years. Tracks like "Love & War," "Mind Over Matter," and "HAPPY TEARS" showcased his emotional storytelling and raw honesty.

He often rapped about pain, loyalty, and survival. Fans connected with that vulnerability. Which is why this ending feels especially hard to process.

The image of a young artist sitting in his car, speaking through a rolled-down window just moments before making a fatal decision, is difficult to shake. But it is a reminder that even when danger seems to have passed, unseen battles can still be raging.

Unfortunately, Lil Poppa is not the only artist we have lost violently in the past few months. Rapper POORSTACY, 26, was reportedly found dead in a Florida motel room on the morning of Saturday, November 29, 2025, while his partner, Nicole Grikstas, was arrested shortly afterward.

Police used information from a 911 call placed at the scene to help establish a timeline of events leading up to his death.

Tragedy in Boca Raton: Drugs, Violence, and a Fatal Standoff

The rapper, whose real name was Carlito Milfort, was found just hours after his death by suicide inside a Boca Raton motel room.

According to a police affidavit obtained by TMZ, Nicole was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with child neglect without causing great bodily harm. Police said the couple had been staying at the motel for about a week with their child.

Nicole told officers that during their stay, she and POORSTACY used large amounts of cocaine, MDMA, and Xanax, often in front of the child.

On the night of Friday, November 28, the couple returned to their room around 11 p.m. and used cocaine. A few hours later, Nicole took MDMA. She said they began arguing and accused each other of cheating.

Nicole claimed the fight escalated when POORSTACY accused her of hiding his drugs. She told police he forcibly removed her clothes to search her body and struck her multiple times.

He then allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot her if she didn't tell him where the drugs were. Over the next hour, she said, he pointed the gun at her, then at himself, until he ultimately took his own life.

Child Exposed to Drug Use and Domestic Violence

Police responded to a 911 call from the motel's front desk. Inside the room, they found drugs, drug paraphernalia, children's toys, food, and a loaded Taurus handgun. Officers said Nicole made no effort to remove the child from the situation.

Based on her statements and evidence at the scene, police concluded the child had been exposed to ongoing drug use and domestic violence. This led to Nicole's arrest. A source close to POORSTACY's family reportedly said that the child is now staying with Nicole's relatives.

Inside the 911 Call and the Police's Initial Statement

A 911 call released by TMZ provided limited information about the moments before POORSTACY's death. The call was heavily redacted by the Boca Raton Police Department (BRPD), which said all investigative details had been removed.

In the recording, an unidentified man gives the motel's location and appears to hand the phone to a woman. "Ma'am, are you able to talk?" he asked. She replied, "Yes." He then stated, "She has questions for you," as the 911 operator began asking for the woman's name.

In an earlier statement, the BRPD said POORSTACY died from injuries "stemming from an incident" in Boca Raton. Although the death has been officially ruled a suicide, some family members suspect foul play.

An Uncompromising Career Fueled by Innovation, Pain — and a Friend Who Believed in Him

POORSTACY was an emerging figure in alternative music, blending emo, punk, industrial, and metal influences. He frequently collaborated with Travis Barker and worked closely with Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes.

The relationship with Oli extended beyond music. The frontman often sent personal gifts and handwritten letters, and the two remained in regular contact. They bonded over both creative projects and casual downtime, often spending hours gaming together.

POORSTACY noted that Oli won't hesitate to give direct feedback when something isn't working. "He's doing it because he likes the art and he likes the person he’s working with," the rapper said at the time.

One of their joint efforts appeared on POORSTACY's 2021 album "Party at the Cemetery," a bold mix of cyber-punk and metalcore layered with deeply personal lyrics.

Born in New York and raised in South Florida, POORSTACY often spoke about childhood trauma, behavioral issues, and time spent in juvenile detention. He dropped out of high school and, at 16, experienced three days of psychosis after taking synthetic hallucinogens — an event he said triggered chronic OCD.

"If anybody disturbs that process, it drives me crazy to the point where I feel like I'm going to have an aneurysm," he said.

After initial success with Internet Money, POORSTACY went independent to redefine his sound. Influenced by artists like Slipknot, My Chemical Romance, and Bloodbather, he pushed sonic boundaries with songs like "Día De los Muertos" and "Knife Party."

Before his death, POORSTACY had been planning a darker follow-up album. "It's going to be heavier than this one, for sure, — I would say it's almost going to be religious. I'm trying to turn Poorstacy into a cult. POORSTACY might end up being one character in the big grand scheme of things," he explained.

Though his life ended early, he left behind a legacy defined by creativity, vulnerability, and a refusal to conform.

In a separate case involving the sudden loss of a young public figure, another community mourned the death of social media personality Emman Atienza.

As reported on October 25, Atienza, beloved for her radiant smile and raw honesty about mental health, died suddenly, sending shockwaves across social media and leaving fans and loved ones reeling in sorrow.

Atienza passed away at her Los Angeles home on Wednesday, October 22. Her family broke the tragic news two days later in a statement posted to Instagram, igniting a wave of mourning across her online community.

"It's with deep sadness that we share the unexpected passing of our daughter and sister, Emman," the grieving statement read.

A Joyful Light Extinguished Too Soon

Signed by her parents, Kim and Jose, along with her siblings, Feli and Eliana, the statement painted a portrait of a girl who brought joy, laughter, and love into the hearts of everyone she encountered.

"Emman had a way of making people feel seen and heard," the post continued. "She wasn't afraid to share her own journey with mental health. Her authenticity helped so many feel less alone."

The family urged others to carry Atienza's legacy by spreading compassion, courage, and kindness — the very virtues she championed throughout her short but impactful life.

Within hours, the post was flooded with thousands of grief-stricken comments, many from fans who had quietly followed Atienza's journey and found solace in her vulnerability.

"Can't believe you're gone. You were always present, silly, fun loving, bubbly and a light to be around. RIP Emman ❤️," one follower wrote. Another heartbreakingly shared, "rip emman :( couldn't sleep. i've been thinking of you. my heart is heavy. and im a silent fan of yours [sic]."

One fan who was still in disbelief added, "I cant believe it girl [sic]," while another stated, "Emman, we miss you 🥺 I still can't get over it."

Final Video Shared Just Hours Before Death

TMZ has since reported the official cause of death as suicide, confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Even more gut-wrenching, Atienza's final TikTok.

Shared just one day before her passing, it was a joyous montage of clips showing her goofing around, laughing, and spending cherished moments with friends. Once a celebration of life, the video has now become a painful goodbye for fans who can't stop watching through tears.

'I've Grown a Lot': Her Last Message on Healing

Earlier this year, Atienza had spoken candidly in a June 2025 TikTok, addressing her battle with mental illness during her high school years and the emotional growth she'd worked so hard to achieve.

"I'm gonna have a moment of realness with you guys," she began, before opening up about her struggles. She highlighted her experience in high school, saying, "It wasn't the most positive."

As she got candid about her path to healing, she admitted she'd once been "very, very mentally ill," but reflected on the drastic change in her mindset over the years. Looking back at old photos and messages had reminded her just how far she'd come.

"I've also talked about how I've grown a lot as a person, how I've been so much healthier, happier, etc. But at the end of the day, I'm still human — I still feel emotions, I still get sad, anxious, stressed, worried, whatever," she confessed.

It was this radical honesty, this bravery to be vulnerable in public, that endeared her to so many. She permitted her followers to feel, to struggle, and to survive.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.