Photo: Broward County Sheriff’s Office/AP/Shutterstock
Rapper YNW Melly is facing the death penalty if convicted of the double murder of his two friends.
“The murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel, and he committed homicide in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner,” the court documents state.
Florida is one of the 30 states where capital punishment is legal.
Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, wasarrested in Februaryafter allegedly shooting Williams and Thomas Jr. on Oct. 26.
Williams and Thomas were both pronounced dead at the hospital.
Williams was also known as YNW Sakchaser and Thomas was known as YNW Juvy. Both rappers werefeatured on a documentaryabout Melly posted on Melly’s YouTube page.
YNW Melly/Instagram
Henry told police he and the two victims had just wrapped a late-night studio session when a car pulled up on his driver’s side and opened fire as he was pulling off the freeway, TMZ reported. Cops confirmed there were eight bullet holes along the right side of the vehicle where Williams and Thomas Jr. sat, and Henry escaped injury.
Additionally, the outlet reports that the police allege Melly and Henrydrove around with the bodiesof Williams and Thomas Jr. after they had been shot “for a period of time” before driving to the hospital. Henry later told police that Melly was, in fact, in the same car with them but eventually got into another vehicle.
On Feb. 13, Melly, revealed on Instagram that he would beturning himself in to authorities.
“To all my fans and supporters… I am turning my self in today,” Melly wrote.
Henry was arrested in January in Houston and was extradited to Broward.
Just after the murder, Melly’s attorney Bradford Cohen said,according to theSun Sentinel,the rapper is “sad, he’s upset, obviously.”
“Those are his best friends,” Cohen said.
In March, Melly and Henrypleaded not guiltyto charges in connection with the case, Billboard reported. Both men remain behind bars without bond.
At this time, it is not certain that prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Henry, according to theSun-Sentinel.
Cohen also spoke with theSun-Sentinel, explaining Melly is not guilty, but that the decision to seek the death penalty “did not come as a surprise.”
Melly is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, theSun-Sentinelreported.
Cohen did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Prior to his arrest, Melly, who is best known for his song “Murder on My Mind” released his debut albumWe All Shinein January and was expected toembark on a tourin support of the project. Melly also recently collaborated withKanye Weston the track “Mixed Personalities.”
source: people.com
