YNW Melly asks for release from Florida jail as he says he’s tested positive for coronavirus … ahead of double murder trial
- He’s charged with double murder in deaths of two fellow rappers
- Rapper says jail isn’t equipped to deal with the deadly pandemic
- The rapper ‘hopes for your support and to recover soon’
- Artist collaborated with Kanye West on the 2019 single Mixed Personalities
YNW Melly says he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is asking officials in Florida to let him out of jail ahead of his double murder trial.
According to a statement on the Instagram page of the Murder on My Mind rapper, 20, YNW Melly was seeking an early release amid a jail atmosphere he said isn’t equipped to deal with the deadly pandemic.
‘Melly has tested positive for COVID-19 today while awaiting his trial in Broward County Jail,’ the statement read. ‘He’ll be filing a motion for restricted release in hopes of better care due to any jails not being prepared to treat this new virus.
The latest: YNW Melly, 20, says he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is asking officials in Florida to let him out of jail ahead of his double murder trial. He was snapped last year in LA
‘He hopes for your support and to recover soon.’
The statement ended, #prayformelly send positive energy to him please.’
In a subsequent post, his team posted an emoji of praying hands alongside an excerpt of a Law.com story confirming that Broward Sheriff’s Office said that two inmates, who were not named, had tested positive for the deadly pandemic over the past two days.
‘We have been very concerned about the potential for this to occur and that is why we have been working with the courts and the criminal defense bar to release non-violent offenders,’ Broward State Attorney’s Office Paula McMahon told the outlet in an email.
Request: According to a statement on his Instagram page, YNW Melly was seeking an early release amid a jail atmosphere he said isn’t equipped to deal with the deadly pandemic
Hoping for the best: The rapper, pictured with loved ones, ‘hopes for your support and to recover soon’ from the pandemic
YNW Melly, who collaborated with Kanye West on the 2019 single Mixed Personalities, was taken into custody in February of 2019 accused of first-degree murder in the deaths of two other rappers – Christopher Thomas Jr., 19, known as YNW Juvy, and Anthony Williams, 21, known as YNW Sakchaser.
The Gifford, Florida native, whose full name is Jamell Maurice Demons, could face the death penalty in the case.
Accused: YNW Melly was taken into custody in February of 2019 accused of first-degree murder in the deaths of two other rappers – Christopher Thomas Jr., 19, known as YNW Juvy, and Anthony Williams, 21, known as YNW Sakchaser
Better times: YNW Melly collaborated with Kanye West on the 2019 single Mixed Personalities
The international pandemic has spread to a number of notable names in the rap world, include Geto Boys’ rapper Scarface, Slim Thug and Scarface.
Other notable musicians who have tested positive for the virus include singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, opera singer Placido Domingo and Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan; Fountains of Wayne co-founder Adam Schlesinger died earlier this week of complications from COVID-19.
As of Thursday, the death total for COVID-19 – declared a public health emergency by World Health Organization – had soared to 5,784 people in the U.S., The COVID Tracking Project reported, with 239,009 total positive diagnoses.