The Texas courtroom was tense this week as rapper Tay-K, born Taymor McIntyre, faced capital murder charges tied to a deadly 2017 robbery outside a Chick-fil-A in San Antonio. At just 24, the artist who shot to viral fame with the fierce, runaway anthem “The Race,” now battles the grim possibility of life in prison without parole.
The trial revolves around the fatal shooting of 23-year-old photographer Mark Anthony Saldivar, whose life was cut short in a chaotic confrontation caught by multiple witnesses. On April 8, 2025, eyewitnesses delivered detailed accounts of the incident, painting a scene of turmoil and fear.
According to bystanders, Saldivar was seen grappling with people inside a black vehicle before he was shoved out. After hitting the ground, he reportedly tried to confront the car’s occupants. That’s when, witnesses say, Tay-K allegedly fired the fatal shot.
One of the trial’s most gripping testimonies came from Joanna Reyes, who told the court she was Tay-K’s girlfriend at the time of the shooting. Reyes admitted to driving the car that day. She testified that Tay-K ordered her to follow Saldivar after an argument over a backpack filled with camera equipment. Reyes, who accepted a plea deal to lessen her own charges, claimed Tay-K shot Saldivar when he refused to give up his gear.
Reyes’ testimony added serious weight to the prosecution’s case, especially given her insider viewpoint. However, the defense fired back, accusing law enforcement of rushing the investigation. Tay-K’s attorney, John T. Hunter, criticized the police work as sloppy and incomplete, claiming they leaned too heavily on witnesses like Reyes, who stood to benefit from cooperation.
Hunter argued there was more to the story, hinting at possible self-defense. The defense claimed Saldivar had jumped on the car and began stomping the windshield, a dangerous move that could have provoked the gunfire.
Courtroom tensions escalated when Judge Stephanie Boyd had to step in. She sternly reprimanded the defense for mentioning allegations against Saldivar that were ruled inadmissible before trial. The judge told jurors to disregard those claims entirely, keeping the focus squarely on the facts presented.
For Tay-K, this is yet another dark chapter. Back in 2019, he was sentenced to 55 years for the 2016 killing of Ethan Walker during a home invasion in Mansfield, Texas. The San Antonio case stems from crimes committed while Tay-K was on the run, having infamously cut off his ankle monitor and fled.
If convicted, Tay-K faces the harshest penalty yet: life behind bars without the chance of parole.
As the trial continues, more testimonies and evidence are expected to unfold, keeping the hip-hop community and legal watchers locked in.
