Yella Beezy Gets Life for Hiring Gunman in MO3 Killing

A Dallas County jury found Markies Conway, known as Yella Beezy, guilty of capital murder in the death of Melvin Noble, the rapper known as MO3. The jury’s verdict was unanimous, and Conway received a life term, with parole barred, on November 11. Prosecutors said Conway paid gunman Kewon White $40,000 to kill Noble amid a years-long feud between the two artists.

Noble was traveling south on Interstate 35 through Dallas near midday on November 11, 2020, when White pulled alongside him. White left his vehicle and fired as Noble ran across the freeway. Prosecutors said White, wearing a mask, fired more than 40 rounds from an AK-47-style pistol. Noble was taken to a hospital and died; a bystander was also shot and survived.

White was convicted of capital murder in September and received a life sentence without parole. Conway’s trial lasted more than two weeks. Witnesses described the shooting, including a doctor who stopped to help Noble. Rapper Theodore Thomas testified about a feud in earlier grand jury proceedings, but at trial said he had made up that account; the judge allowed prosecutors to question him as a hostile witness.

Prosecutors pointed to a video in which Conway discussed revenge and argued the killing followed the same pattern as a 2018 shooting that wounded him while he was driving. The defense said the state’s case rested on speculation and had not proved its allegations. Conway had pleaded not guilty to arranging the shooting. Devin Brown, whom prosecutors also accused of involvement, is expected to face trial.