Tay-K, the rapper behind the 2017 viral hit “The Race,” has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for a 2017 murder while already serving a 55-year sentence for a separate 2016 killing.
Born Taymor McIntyre, the 24-year-old artist gained national attention when “The Race” landed on the Billboard Hot 100 the same day he was arrested by U.S. Marshals. At just 17, he had fled house arrest, cut off his ankle monitor, and gone on the run following charges related to a deadly home invasion in Tarrant County, Texas. That incident, which occurred when he was 16, resulted in the death of 21-year-old Ethan Walker. In 2019, he was convicted and sentenced to 55 years for that murder, along with additional concurrent sentences for aggravated robbery.
While on the run in 2017, Tay-K was accused of involvement in another fatal incident. Authorities in Bexar County alleged he participated in the robbery and shooting of 23-year-old photographer Mark Anthony Saldívar, who was lured under the pretense of a photoshoot. Saldívar was later found dead outside a Chick-fil-A in San Antonio.
On April 14, after eight hours of jury deliberation, Tay-K was found guilty of murder—though not capital murder, which would have carried a mandatory life sentence without parole. The jury reportedly struggled with identifying Tay-K as the shooter, resulting in the lesser charge.
The following day, April 15, he was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the 2017 killing. During sentencing, emotional testimonies were given by both the victim’s and Tay-K’s families. His sister, Kayla Beverly, spoke about their troubled upbringing, alleging years of abuse at the hands of both their biological and foster parents.
Judge Stephanie Boyd acknowledged the rapper’s difficult childhood, but emphasized the gravity of his actions:
“I do realize that while this is a lot of time, you’re still alive. You can still better yourself. But the complainant in this case is deceased, and you need to internalize that.”
