YNW Melly Pleads Not Guilty in Double Murder Case

YNW Melly has pled not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.

A source close to the case confirms to XXL that the “Mixed Personalities” rapper, whose real name is Jamell Demons, entered the plea on Tuesday (Mar. 5).

He was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Feb. 13 stemming from the October 2018 shooting of his friends, Anthony Williams (YNW Sakchaser) and Christopher Thomas Jr. (YNW Juvy), near Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cortlen Henry (YNW Bortlen) was also arrested in connection with the killings.

The Miramar Police Department believes that Demons and Henry shot the men and staged the crime to make it seem like Williams and Thomas Jr. were killed during a drive-by shooting. The two men were pronounced dead at the hospital after being shot in the head, torso, and back.

Henry told police that he and his friends were driving on the freeway after wrapping a late-night studio session when a car pulled up on the driver’s side and opened fire. There were eight bullet holes along the right side of the vehicle where Williams and Thomas were seated.

During the investigation, cops found forensic evidence including a shell casing inside the vehicle, along with eight matching shell casings in a different location, where cops think Melly and Henry shot up the car to make it look like a drive-by.

Cops say after Williams and Thomas were shot, Melly and Henry drove around with the dead bodies “for a period of time” to possibly buy time and come up with a story for the men’s death.

Prior to turning himself in, Melly addressed the murder charges on Instagram. “A couple months ago I lost my two brothers by violence and now the system want to find justice,” he wrote. “Unfortunately a lot of rumors and lies are being said but no worries god is with me and my brother @ynw.bortlen.”