The 30-year sentence handed to Tay-K’s friend Pimpyz was a tough pill to swallow for the rapper’s mother.
The 19-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jalen Bell, received the lengthy sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery in the deadly home invasion of 21-year-old Ethan Walker.
Pimpyz’s mother was visibly upset after the victim’s mother Roberta Walker scolded him for his actions. The rapper’s mother rushed from the courtroom, slamming open the door and crying loudly when Ms. Walker said she didn’t wish Pimpyz well in prison.
Tay-K paid homage to Pimpyz in song “The Race” with the line, “Pimp gon be eating good noodles everyday.”
Like Tay-K, Pimpyz, 17, was facing a capital murder charge when he was arrested on Friday, May 26, 2017. Pimp was being held on $500,000 bond at Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, TX.
Pimpyz revealed earlier this month he was offered a 20-year plea deal if he was to testify against Tay-K.
He wrote on IG, “da judge said he’ll give me 20 if I snitch n I told him eat my d**k. I’ll neva switch.”
In a plea deal reached with prosecutors, Pimp pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery in the home invasion.
Pimp was one of seven suspects charged in the incident.
Tay-K’s accomplice, Sean Robinson, has pleaded guilty for his role in deadly home invasion that left 26-year-old Ethan Walker dead.
Sean, whose was originally charged with capital murder in the case, pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for a 40-year prison sentence.
He’ll have to serve 18 years before he’s eligible for parole.
Two female suspects – 22-year-old Ariana Bharrat and Megan Holt, 21 – both accepted plea deals, agreeing to testify truthfully in the upcoming capital murder trials of their co-defendants, Sean Robinson, Jalen Bell and Tay-K in exchange for being allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated robbery.
Their testimonies will allow them to avoid capital murder charges and escape the death penalty.
Bharrat’s plea deal will allow her to plead guilty to aggravated robbery in exchange for a 25-year prison sentence.
Holt, 21, will receive a 20-year prison sentence if she pleads guilty to aggravated robbery.
A teen girl was sentenced in February to 20 years’ confinement after she was found guilty of capital murder and two aggravated robbery charges.
Latharian Merritt, the accused gunman in Walker’s shooting, convicted of capital murder by a jury in May. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Tay-K helped plan the robbery with Robinson and other suspects on the night of Monday, July 25, 2016. Two women, Megan Holt, 19, and Ariana Bharrat, 20, were pawns used to gain entry into the home that night.
Megan, Ariana and an unnamed woman drove to Ethan’s home to smoke marijuana. A total of three residents were at the home.
Bharrat and Holt began “acting weird, going in and out of the room,” the unnamed witness stated in an affidavit. Holt went to the kitchen to get a drink of water three times in 20 minutes.
The witness could see a group text message of “hit a lick” and “is it a go” on Ariana’s phone. Megan’s name was also reportedly in the group text. “Hit a lick” means to rob a person or burglarize a home.
It wasn’t long before a group that included Tay-K, 17, Latharian Merritt, 22, Sean, 22, charged into the home with weapons. A resident told authorities he believes one of the women unlocked the front door.
The home invaders stole drugs and money. Walker was shot as the robbers ran out the front door and later died from his injury at John Peter Smith Hospital In Fort Worth, TX.
The resident who let the women into the house was shot in the shoulder when he fought with a robber. A third resident was injured and treated at the scene.
The three women fled the house behind the robbers and drove away in Megan’s car.
Megan and Ariana were arrested on July 27 and July 28, 2016, respectively. The two women face a charge of capital murder, and are being held on $500,000 in Tarrant County Jail.
Latharian was arrested on Aug. 3, 2016 and being held at $145,000 bail. He faces a capital murder charge.
Four juveniles, including Tay-K, were also arrested. A teen girl was the first juvenile arrested, and ordered released on house arrest. Prosecutors attempted to have the girl certified as an adult in the case, but were unsuccessful.
Tay-K was also lucky to be released on house arrest as it went against prosecutors’ wishes. Tay-K still decided to cut off his ankle monitor in March, and make a run for it. Unfortunately for Tay-K, U.S. Marshalls captured him on Friday, June 30 in New Jersey, and extradited him to Fort Worth, Texas.
Tay-K’s attorneys are confident “The Race” rapper will beat his case.
Tay-K now has entertainment lawyer James McMillan representing him, according to the New York Times. McMillan is known for representing Kodak Black who is battling his own legal troubles.
Tay-K, McMillan said, “has this dire situation on his back, but this opportunity on the other hand. I’m tasked with trying to make sure we maximize his opportunities so he can mount as strong of a criminal defense as possible.”
Loftin told The New York Times that the rapper “is ready for his day in court,” adding the teen was “upbeat and in good spirits.”
Loftin believes Tay-K will be cleared of all of charges.
“Since Day 1, Mr. McIntyre has cooperated with law enforcement entities and maintained his innocence,” Loftin said. “We feel confident when all of the evidence is reviewed, Mr. McIntyre will be exonerated of all of the charges.”
Tay-K’s legal woes don’t end with the home invasion case. He is a suspect in another murder in San Antonio after fleeing house arrest, the Star-Telegram reports.
He is also accused of beating and robbing a 65-year-old man in Arlington’s Craven Park.
Tay-K gained popularity when he released his “The Race” music video upon his capture by U.S. Marshalls. Tay-K posed with his own wanted flier in the visual. Tay-K also calls himself a shooter like slain Chicago rapper Young Pappy.
He raps, “I tote 50s, I’m a shooter like Young Pappy/B***h tried rob me, make her dance, Michael Jackson.”
