Jamell Demons, the rapper known by the stage name YNW Melly, may go down in history as a talented performer. Or he may go down as a convicted killer, maybe even a death row inmate.
That decision will be made by a jury currently being chosen in Broward County, though opening statements are still more than a month away.
Demons, 23, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the 2018 shooting deaths of fellow rappers Anthony Williams, 21, and Christopher Thomas Jr., 19. Williams was known as YNW Sakchaser, Thomas as YNW Juvy. Both were gunned down in Miramar in an incident that prosecutors say was staged to look like a drive-by shooting.
Demons, Williams and Thomas had been at a recording session in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 26, 2018. Prosecutors say the shooting took place while the men were riding in Miramar, with Demons pulling the trigger and another man, Cortlen Henry, driving.
Henry, 24, is being tried separately and is not facing the death penalty. His trial is scheduled to start in October.
Continue to pray for all parties involved.