Tay-K was found guilty of murder by a North Texas jury on Friday, July 19 for the 2016 slaying of Ethan Walker during a home invasion.
The 19-year-old rapper, whose real name is Taymor McIntyre, did not fire the gun which killed Walker, however he allegedly recruited the triggerman and organized the robbery. After a 15-year-old girl messaged him via Instagram asking him if he could get guns for the robbery, he responded to her saying that he did not have one, however he had a friend who did. The 21-year-old victim reportedly told the three, along with various other robbers that he did not have any drugs or money, and as a result, he was murdered.
The man who shot Walker was sentenced last year to life in prison. Prosecutors state that McIntyre is being charged with murder because he planned the whole thing.
The teen gained stardom following the murder after he went on the run and and recorded a song and video about it entitled The Race. The song hit No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and was even remixed by a number of artists including 21 Savage and YBN Nahmir.
Texas State District, Judge Wayne Salvant, said he is extremely frustrated with the song’s success, according to CBS News.
“It’s my understanding that people throughout this country have ‘Free Tay-K’ signs up or ‘goto’ funds to fund his defense and this court has a problem with that,” Salvant said. “I don’t know what this country has become when people can go out and allegedly commit heinous crimes and be glorified for it.”
The rapper is looking at anywhere from five to 99 years in prison.
