YNW Melly has been putting in work while in jail writing a ton of new music for his fans.
YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, has a criminal track record longer than most rappers. The rapper has been incarcerated so many times he might as well permanently move in with all his furniture. And at the moment it doesn’t seem like he’ll be released from his current bid in jail anytime soon, due to the gruesome nature of his last arrest. YNW Melly was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Wednesday, February 13. The rapper turned himself in to Miramar, Florida police for the fatal shootings of his friends, Anthony Williams, and Christopher Thomas Jr. Both men were aspiring rappers who went by YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy, respectively.
YNW Melly’s friends, Anthony Williams AKA YNW Sakchaser, and Christopher Thomas Jr. AKA YNW Juvy, were shot and killed in October last year. They were each reportedly shot multiple times, and driven to Memorial Miramar Hospital, where they were pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Sakchaser was 21, and Juvy was 19.
The Sun Sentinel reported, “Before sunrise on October 26, a Jeep Compass with the rear window punched out delivered mortally wounded Anthony D’Andre Williams and Christopher Thomas, Jr. to the emergency bay of Memorial Hospital Miramar. Doctors declared them dead. Henry [YNW Bortlen] was the driver of the Jeep, and the only passengers were the dying men. Demons [YNW Melly] was not at the hospital that early morning, according to police.”
At the time of their deaths, the incident was thought to have been a drive-by shooting. The day after the gruesome murders, YNW Melly posted a photo of himself with his deceased friends on his Instagram page. The post was captioned, “They Took My Brothers From Me Over Jealousy. I know y’all watching over me it’s #ynw4l @ynwsakchaser1 @ynwjuvy for Life and after, they wanna see me break down and stop or in jail or a box but my ni**as still need me they parents need me they family need me till we meet again my twins my slimes.”
The attorney for YNW Melly, Bradford Cohen, released a statement on behalf of the rapper shortly after the deaths. “He’s sad, he’s upset, obviously,” Cohen told the Sun-Sentinel on October 31, 2018. “Those were his best friends.”
On February 12, 2019, YNW Bortlen AKA Cortlen Henry was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts as an accessory after the fact, in connection with the deaths of YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy.
Then in a shocking twist on February 13, 2019, YNW Melly was arrested and slapped with two counts of first-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of his childhood friends, YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy.
Just mere hours before he was arrested YNW Melly posted a photo of himself with Sakchaser, Juvy, and Bortlen. The post was captioned, “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.”
Immediately after turning himself in, Miramar Police officers tweeted about the break in the case, “Jamell Demons, a.k.a. YNW Melly & Cortlen Henry have been arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder. The victims, Anthony Williams & Christopher Thomas Jr., were killed on 10/26/2018. The investigation, supported by forensic evidence, has concluded that Demons shot and killed Williams & Thomas Jr. and that Demons and Henry staged the crime scene to resemble a drive-by shooting.”
Court documents obtained reveal that camera footage and phone records do not coincide with YNW Bortlen’s account of the night, and evidence from the autopsy contradicts YNW Melly’s statements. They were also suspicious Snapchat messages from YNW Melly referenced in the court documents. Both YNW Melly and YNW Bortlen pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In mid-April, the State of Florida filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty for Melly. They list four “aggravating factors” in their decision. First, that the murder was done “for pecuniary gain.” Second, that it was “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.” Third, that it was “committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification.” And fourth, that they can prove Melly is “a criminal gang member.”
Back in July YNW Melly shared a video from the courtroom, stating, “I’ll be home soon.”
A recent post via Saycheese IG revealed that “YNW Melly has written over 150 songs while in jail over the last 7 months.” What’s even more impressive, two years ago he wrote hit records “Blue Balenciagas & Murder On My Mind” while incarcerated. The rapper seems to have an astonishing number of fans who believe he is being framed for the murders, and as such, they are anxious to see the rapper released from prison.
One fan commented, “They’re setting him up. They don’t have any evidence and they tried to get his friend to confess a lie and say that he killed their friends. He refused too, so, they’re falsely incarcerating these young men, because they’re not willing to do there jobs that the taxpayers have provided for them to do. This is the system in America. It’s built to lock up innocent black/brown men and women. Racism at its finest inside the courthouse. He’s arrested on speculations. There’s no solid evidence. Let these men go, and allow them to use their God given gifts and talents to bless themselves and their families. This should be against law for policemen to falsely imprisoned innocent people. If there is an investigation, then that should be done without incarceration if there’s no evidence. Innocence until proven guilty. No Justice !! No Peace!!”
The rapper definitely has some diehard fans who are desperate for new music. Luckily they will be getting tons of bangers upon his release from jail.
