Rising Florida-based rapper YNW Melly has been arrested and charged in the double murder of his two friends and staging their murders as a drive-by shooting.
YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, and Cortlen Henry have been charged with two counts of first degree murder for the October 2018 deaths of Christopher Thomas Jr, 19, and Anthony Williams, 21, the Miramar Police Department announced Wednesday.
Police said forensic evidence led them to Demons – who allegedly shot and killed the two men before he staged the deaths as a drive-by with the help of Henry.
The rapper took to his Instagram page hours before his arrest writing: ‘To all my fans and supporters, no I did not get locked up in Washington, but I am turning myself in today.
‘I want you guys to know I love you and appreciate every single one of y’all, a couple months ago I lost my two brothers by violence and now the system want to find justice.
‘Unfortunately, a lot of rumors and lies are being said, but no worries God is with me and my brother @ynw.bortlen and we want y’all to remember it’s a ynw Family I love you @ynwsakchaser1 and @ynwjuvy #freeus,’ he wrote.
Florida rapper YNW Melly (above on Instagram) has been arrested and charged in the double murder of his two friends and staging it as a drive-by
Christopher Thomas Jr, 19 (left), and 21-year-old Anthony Williams (right) were fatally shot in October
The ‘Murder on my Mind’ crooner has since deleted his Instagram profile.
Demons was also arrested in January on two misdemeanor drug charges. His tour in Phoenix, Arizona on Valentine’s Day.
The two victims were ‘already dead’ when they arrived to the hospital on October 26, police said.
‘They arrived with multiple gunshot wounds. They were dead already,’ Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues explained to the Treasure Coast Palm at the time.
Thomas went by the stage name YNW Juvy and Williams went by YNW Sakchaser. The pair were an associated act with Demons.
The pair were an associated act with19-year-old Jamell Demons
‘They arrived with multiple gunshot wounds. They were dead already,’ Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues explained about Thomas (left) and Williams (right)
Demons and Thomas hailed from Gifford. Williams was from Fort Pierce.
They were all featured in the 2017 song ‘Youngins’ which had well over 2million YouTube views. The video shows various folks showing off an assortment of handguns.
In August, YNW Melly appeared in YNW Juvy’s video for ‘Tissue’ and the song has more than 89,000 views.
The video shows the rapper galavanting around a house with a machine gun.
A few hours after their deaths, YNW Melly took to Instagram to share his thoughts and claimed that the pair were taken from him out of ‘jealousy’ (all three pictured)
A few hours after their deaths, YNW Melly took to Instagram and claimed that the pair were taken from him out of ‘jealousy.’
He added: ‘They wanna see me break down and stop or in jail or a box but my n****s still need me they parents need me they family need me till we meet again my twins my slimes.’
YNW Melly posted another photo that showed him appearing to pray with another group of men outside of what appears to be a prison or jail.
In August, YNW Melly appeared in YNW Juvy’s video for ‘Tissue’. The video shows the rapper galavanting around a house with a machine gun
Send a prayer for my brothers they mama crying right now but i got them 4 Life they my mama,’ said the rapper on Instagram (center in orange)
‘Send a prayer for my brothers they mama crying right now but i got them 4 Life they my mama,’ the rapper said.
YNW Melly later posted on his Instagram story that he was tired of people hitting him up to check to see if he was OK.
‘Leave me the f**k alone, period!’ he exclaimed, while seated in a car.
YNW Melly’s most famous song ‘Murder on my Mind’ has attracted more than 42million views on YouTube.
The rapper recently released the hit track ‘Mixed Personalities’ with Kanye West, which has 17million views.