Rapper Tay-K just caught a major update in his long-running legal saga—he’s been found not guilty of capital murder, but was found guilty of murder in connection to a deadly 2017 shooting in San Antonio.
The case centers on the killing of 23-year-old photographer Mark Saldivar, who was shot outside a Chick-fil-A in what prosecutors say was a robbery attempt by Tay-K and three others. According to reports, Saldivar was allegedly lured under the pretense of selling camera equipment before things escalated. The jury decided Tay-K was guilty of murder but not capital murder, which would’ve meant life with no parole. Now, he’s facing a life sentence with the possibility of parole (Express News).
This isn’t Tay-K’s first major conviction. Back in 2019, he was sentenced to 55 years for his role in a deadly 2016 home invasion in Mansfield, Texas (Pitchfork). While on house arrest for that case, he famously cut off his ankle monitor and went on the run—dropping his viral track “The Race” during that time. The song blew up, but so did his legal troubles.
The sentencing phase for this latest case will be held soon, and it’ll determine how much time gets added to his already lengthy prison stretch.
It’s a wild chapter in Tay-K’s story—one that blends rap fame, real-life crime, and a justice system that’s kept him behind bars since he was a teen.
