Rapper YNW Melly faces death penalty in the double homicide of two friends

Florida-based rapper YNW Melly (above in mugshot) is facing the death penalty in the double homicide of two of his close friends 

Florida-based rapper YNW Melly is facing the death penalty in the double homicide of two of his close friends.

YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, 19, and Cortlen Henry, 20, were arrested by the Miramar Police Department in February. 

They were both charged with two counts of first degree murder for the October 2018 deaths of Christopher Thomas Jr, 19, and 21-year-old Anthony Williams.

The Broward County, Florida, State Attorney’s Office revealed their intent to seek capital punishment. 

Prosecutors said Demons committed the crime for financial gain and they are seeking the death penalty due to the ‘especially heinous, atrocious or cruel’ nature of the murders.

Authorities said the murders were ‘committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification’.  

In February, police said forensic evidence led them to determine Demons as the suspect who gunned down the two men before he staged the killings as a drive-by with the help of Henry. 

The rapper, who recently released the hit track ‘Mixed Personalities’ with Kanye West, 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.

  

YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons (pictured),  and Cortlen Henry, were arrested in February. They were both charged with two counts of first degree murder

YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons (pictured),  and Cortlen Henry, were arrested in February. They were both charged with two counts of first degree murder

Thomas went by the stage name YNW Juvy

Williams went by YNW Sakchaser

Christopher Thomas Jr, 19 (left), and 21-year-old Anthony Williams (right) were fatally shot in October

‘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.’

Following that post, the ‘Murder on my Mind’ deleted his Instagram profile.

Demons was also arrested in January on two misdemeanor drug charges. His tour was scheduled to kick off on Valentine’s Day in Phoenix, Arizona.

The two victims were fatally shot on October 26.

‘They arrived with multiple gunshot wounds… they were dead already,’ Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues told the Treasure Coast Palm at the time. 

Before his arrest, the rapper released the hit track 'Mixed Personalities' with Kanye West

Before his arrest, the rapper released the hit track ‘Mixed Personalities’ with Kanye West

Thomas

Williams

‘They arrived with multiple gunshot wounds. They were dead already,’ Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues explained about Thomas (left) and Williams (right)

Thomas went by the stage name YNW Juvy and Williams went by YNW Sakchaser. The pair were an associated act with Demons. 

Demons and Thomas hailed from Gifford. Williams was from Fort Pierce.  

They were all featured in the 2017 song ‘Youngins’ which had well over 2 million 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 gallivanting around a house with a machine gun. 

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.’  

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 to share his thoughts and claimed that the pair were taken from him out of ‘jealousy’ (all three pictured)

In August, YNW Melly appeared in YNW Juvy's video for 'Tissue'. The video shows the rapper gallivanting around a house with a machine gun

In August, YNW Melly appeared in YNW Juvy’s video for ‘Tissue’. The video shows the rapper gallivanting 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,' the rapper (center in orange) said on Instagram at the time

‘Send a prayer for my brothers they mama crying right now but i got them 4 Life they my mama,’ the rapper (center in orange) said on Instagram at the time

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. 

‘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 42 million views on YouTube.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk