A Dallas County jury on Wednesday convicted rapper Yella Beezy of capital murder for orchestrating the 2020 shooting death of rival artist MO3 on a local interstate.
Following a trial that centered on an escalating feud between the two musicians, 35-year-old Markies Conway, known professionally as Yella Beezy, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors successfully argued that Conway paid $40,000 to a gunman, Kewon White, to carry out the daylight attack.
The shooting occurred on Nov. 11, 2020, along Interstate 35 in south Dallas. The victim, 28-year-old Melvin Noble, who performed as MO3, was forced to flee his vehicle on foot before being gunned down on the freeway. White was previously convicted of capital murder in September for his role as the shooter.
Rapper Yella Beezy Convicted in 2020 Murder of MO3:
During the proceedings, evidence showed that White used an AK-47-style pistol to fire more than 40 rounds, striking Noble and an innocent bystander. While the bystander survived the incident, Noble later died from his injuries at a local hospital. “This was for the world to see,” Prosecutor Krystal Biggins said during the trial. Biggins characterized the killing as the violent culmination of a “rap beef” that had persisted for years.
The state presented evidence suggesting the murder was a retaliatory act, referencing a 2018 incident where Conway himself was shot and injured while driving in Lewisville. During closing arguments, the prosecution showed jurors video footage of Conway discussing revenge in an interview, where he mentioned he would “get his lick back.”
The jury deliberated for more than four hours before returning the unanimous guilty verdict on Wednesday afternoon. Defense attorney John Gussio argued that the state’s case was built on speculation and lacked concrete proof connecting Conway to the hit.
Despite the defense’s claims, the jury found that Conway was the mastermind behind the murder-for-hire plot. Gussio indicated following the verdict that his client intends to appeal the conviction. Noble was a rising star in the Dallas music scene, widely recognized for his 2019 collaboration with Boosie Badazz on the remix of “Errybody.”
Conway also achieved significant commercial success prior to his arrest, notably for his 2017 hit single “That’s On Me” and the song “Bacc At It Again,” which featured Quavo and Gucci Mane.
Under Texas law, the capital murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole because the state did not seek the death penalty. Conway was immediately remanded to begin serving his sentence.
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