On April 14, rapper Tay-K 47, whose real name is Taymor McIntyre, was found guilty of murder in the 2017 killing of Mark Anthony Saldivar. The jury convicted him of the lesser charge of murder, rather than capital murder, sparking a brief moment of celebration in the courtroom, though it was quickly subdued.
At the time of the killing, McIntyre was just 16 years old. While the conviction for capital murder could have resulted in a life sentence, the jury’s decision to go with a lesser charge now leaves the sentencing up to them. McIntyre could face anywhere between 5 and 99 years in prison, depending on their final determination.
McIntyre’s defense attorney, John Hunter, made an emotional appeal to the jury, urging them to consider McIntyre’s youth at the time of the crime. Hunter asked the jury not to treat the rapper as irredeemable, acknowledging McIntyre’s actions but requesting that they “keep it all in perspective.” Hunter also highlighted McIntyre’s prior conviction as an accessory to murder in a separate case in Fort Worth, Texas, for which McIntyre was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
Beyond the courtroom, McIntyre is well-known for his music career, especially his 2017 hit song “The Race.” The track, which featured McIntyre’s wanted poster, gained significant attention, peaking on Billboard’s Hot 100 and accumulating over 250 million views on YouTube.
As the case continues, McIntyre’s fate will be decided by the jury, with his sentence potentially impacting both his life and his music career.