Tay-K, the rapper behind the viral hit “The Race,” has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for the murder of a Texas photographer during a 2017 incident that turned tragic.
The 24-year-old artist, born Taymor McIntyre, was convicted earlier this week for fatally shooting Mark Anthony Saldivar after allegedly robbing him of photography gear.
The sentencing, delivered by a jury in Bexar County, came after extensive testimony in court.
Tay-K remains in custody at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where he will serve the sentence unless granted parole.
He was initially charged with capital murder, but the court opted for a lesser murder charge after further review.
During sentencing, Judge Stephanie Boyd expressed a firm but reflective tone, reminding Tay-K of the irreversible outcome.
“You’re still here and can improve your life,” she said. “But the person you shot is no longer alive. That fact cannot be ignored.”
Defence attorneys pushed back against the prosecution’s narrative, suggesting that key witnesses had self-serving motives and that the investigation was flawed.
“This case was not properly investigated,” defence lawyer John Hunter told jurors during his closing remarks.
Tay-K had previously been sentenced to 55 years for a separate homicide in 2016 involving 21-year-old Ethan Walker.
Despite his legal troubles, the rapper’s notoriety soared with the release of “The Race,” which became a viral hit while he was evading authorities. The track continues to gain traction with over 416 million streams on Spotify.