Broward prosecutors are looking to put rapper YNW Melly on death row for the shooting deaths of two of his close friends in Miramar last October.
The once-rising star, whose real name is Jamell Demons, committed premeditated murder in a cold and calculated manner for financial gain, according to the Broward State Attorney’s Office, which filed its notice of intent to seek the death penalty last Thursday. The notice also accuses Demons, who turns 20 next week, of being a gang member.
Demons’ co-defendant, Cortlen Henry, 20, told police on Oct. 26 that he had been driving with the victims, Anthony Williams, 21, and Christopher Thomas Jr., 19, from a recording studio in Fort Lauderdale, according to an arrest warrant.
Later, as Henry exited Interstate 75 at Miramar Parkway and approached Dykes Road, another vehicle pulled up beside him, according to the warrant. Someone in that car started shooting, striking Williams and Thomas. Henry said he drove the victims to Memorial Hospital in Miramar.
Investigators say that’s not how it really happened. Their investigation determined that Demons was in the car with Henry and the victims when they left the Fort Lauderdale recording studio — the victims were shot inside the vehicle first, with gunshots fired from outside later to make it look like a drive-by shooting, according to Miramar police.
Henry also is charged with murder, though police believe Demons did the shooting. Gunshot residue tests taken hours after the shooting showed Henry had not fired a weapon. He also is charged with being an accessory after the fact.
Henry’s lawyer, Fred Haddad, said he has not gotten any indication that prosecutors will seek capital punishment for his client.
Demons’ lawyer, Bradford Cohen, said the rapper is not guilty, though he did not offer any details about his defense. “We’ll save that for trial,” he said. “We disagree with the assertions that prosecutors are making in the notice to seek death, but it did not come as a surprise to us.”
Demons is next due in court on Thursday for a status conference, typically a routine appearance, before Broward Circuit Judge Andrew Siegel.
rolmeda@SunSentinel.com, 954-356-4457, Twitter @SSCourts and @rolmeda