Rapper Tay-K Convicted of Second Murder in Texas, Faces Up to 99 More Years in Prison
California rapper Tay-K, born Taymor McIntyre, has been convicted of murder for the second time in Texas, marking another grim chapter in a saga that once blurred the line between viral fame and violent crime.
Second Murder Conviction: The Death of Mark Anthony Saldivar
On Friday, a Bexar County jury found the 24-year-old rapper guilty in the 2017 shooting death of photographer Mark Anthony Saldivar. The incident occurred while McIntyre was on the run from law enforcement, having cut off his ankle monitor and fled house arrest while awaiting trial for a separate murder.
The shooting took place in a Chick-fil-A parking lot in San Antonio, where McIntyre and two accomplices robbed Saldivar of his camera equipment before fatally shooting him. Prosecutors argued that the killing was both premeditated and part of a string of escalating criminal acts committed while he was a fugitive.
Background: The Murder of Ethan Walker
McIntyre had already gained notoriety following his 2019 conviction for the 2016 murder of Ethan Walker, a 21-year-old killed during a botched home invasion robbery in Mansfield, Texas. Tay-K was just 16 years old at the time of the crime but was tried as an adult and sentenced to 55 years in prison.
While under house arrest before trial, McIntyre famously cut off his ankle monitor and went on the run, during which time he committed additional crimes — including the murder of Saldivar.
Viral Fame During Crime Spree
It was during this fugitive period that Tay-K released his breakout hit, “The Race”, which quickly went viral and made national headlines. The music video — which has since garnered over 251 million views on YouTube — shows McIntyre posing next to a wanted poster of himself, effectively taunting law enforcement.
The song, and the mythos surrounding it, sparked debates about glorifying criminal behavior in hip-hop, particularly when the artist was an active fugitive.
Sentencing and Legal Ramifications
While McIntyre avoided a capital murder conviction that could have resulted in a mandatory life sentence without parole, he now faces an additional sentence of five to 99 years in prison for this second murder conviction.
The sentencing phase is set to begin shortly, and the final ruling could cement Tay-K’s fate as one of the most infamous cautionary tales in modern rap history—a promising artist undone by a series of violent choices.
A Tragic Legacy
Once hailed as a raw, unfiltered voice of youth rebellion, Tay-K’s criminal history has now overshadowed his music career, turning a viral sensation into a double-convicted murderer. His story serves as a sobering reminder of how fame, violence, and crime can collide with devastating consequences.