The first of three men accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot to kill an emerging Dallas rapper has learned his fate.
Kewon White, 27, who stood accused of being the alleged gunman who shot and killed MO3 (real name Melvin Noble) on a Dallas freeway in November 2020, was found guilty of capital murder by a Dallas jury after only three hours of deliberations on Friday. State District Judge Chika Anyiam would later sentence White to life without the possibility of parole.
White is one of three men set to stand trial in relation to the brazen killing, a death that has become the talk of rap social media in Dallas over a much -publicized beef between MO3 and fellow Dallas rapper Yella Beezy.
The trial lasted for eight days, with both the prosecution and defense resting. State prosecutors argued that the beef led to the shooting, with Yella Beezy (real name Markies Conway) accused of orchestrating the killing. Lyrics between both rappers were referenced during the trial, including songs like “Hitters,” “Keep It In The Streets” and “On Your Head.” Prosecutors alleged lyrics mentioned in all three songs supported their theory that Conway led White to kill Noble.
On November 11, 2020, prosecutors said White chased Noble, 28, onto I-35 in a vehicle before opening fire, killing him for a promised payment. Surveillance footage shown to jurors highlighted Noble’s final moments, with him exiting a gold Honda that he was driving before a masked gunman chased him down the freeway. He was shot 13 times and was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later.
According to investigators, 44 cartridge casings were retrieved from the scene, and during the trial, White’s cousin testified that he admitted to shooting Noble at least once in the buttocks.
“It was planned, premeditated, and based on the evidence that we had from the highway and the hospital, the shooter was intent on killing him,” Dallas police Detective Eric Barnes testified. According to WFAA, during White’s interrogation, Barnes suggested he killed Noble for $50,000.
FBI Special Agent Taylor Page was one of the last witnesses called to testify in the case on Friday. He revealed the evidence he collected to suggest White had killed Noble, using cell phone records and how White effectively waited for Noble and communicated with another man, Devin Brown, who is also charged in the case. White, who was driving a black Chevy Camaro, later followed Noble after the “Everybody” rapper left a woman’s apartment.
Conway is facing a capital murder charge. Two other men, Brown and Jerry Johnson, have also been charged in connection with the case. All three have pleaded not guilty.
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This article originally published at Gunman in Dallas rapper murder-for-hire plot sentenced to life without parole.