Dallas rapper Yella Beezy, whose legal name is Markies Conway, has been found guilty of capital murder in connection with the fatal shooting of fellow rapper Mo3, legally known as Melvin Noble. The killing took place in November 2020, and Conway stood accused of orchestrating the murder by allegedly offering gunman Kewon White and another individual, Devin Brown, $40,000 to carry out the attack. Conway entered a plea of not guilty to these charges. White was convicted the previous month and subsequently sentenced to life in prison, while Brown is scheduled to stand trial in the near future.
The trial extended over a period of more than two weeks before the jury reached its verdict. Throughout the proceedings, witnesses provided detailed accounts of the ambush targeting Mo3. Notably, during the second day of testimony, a physician who had witnessed the shooting on Interstate 35 delivered an emotionally charged account, describing how he put his own safety at risk in an effort to assist the victim.
The jury also heard testimony from rapper Jose Bodega, legally identified as Theodore Thomas. While Thomas had previously described a feud between Conway and Noble during grand jury proceedings, he recanted those statements at trial, claiming they were fabricated. As a result, the presiding judge permitted prosecutors to designate Thomas as a hostile witness.
Conway has now entered the punishment phase of the trial.
It is worth noting that Conway has faced legal difficulties in the past. In 2021, he was arrested in Collin County on three charges, including sexual assault, abandonment of an endangered child, and unlawful carrying of a weapon, though those charges were ultimately dismissed. Additionally, in 2018, Conway sustained multiple gunshot wounds while inside a vehicle on the Sam Rayburn Tollway in Lewisville. Conway had previously gained notable recognition in the music industry, having served as an opening act for Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
