Rapper Tay-K Sentenced to 80 Years in Prison for 2017 Murder -

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SAN ANTONIO: Rapper Taymor McIntyre, known professionally as Tay-K, has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for the 2017 murder of photographer Mark Anthony Saldivar. A Bexar County jury delivered the sentence on Tuesday, April 15, after convicting the 24-year-old of murder. Though he narrowly avoided a capital murder conviction—which would have carried a mandatory life sentence without parole—Tay-K still faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars.

The case stems from an incident in San Antonio, where Saldivar was shot and killed while Tay-K was on the run from authorities after escaping house arrest. Prosecutors argued that Tay-K, then 16, orchestrated the robbery that led to Saldivar’s death. During the trial, key testimony came from Tay-K’s former girlfriend, Joanna Reyes, who turned government witness in exchange for a plea deal on a lesser charge of tampering with evidence.

Reyes testified that she had arranged a photoshoot with Saldivar for Tay-K, who then allegedly attempted to rob the photographer. According to her account, when Saldivar refused to hand over his backpack and clung to the car’s hood during the altercation, Tay-K ordered her to get him off. After she failed to do so, she said the rapper leaned out of the vehicle and shot Saldivar.

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Reyes told jurors she initially kept quiet out of fear, claiming Tay-K had threatened her and her family. Two other individuals—Jalen Bell and Jeremiah Rodriguez—were also present during the incident.

This marks Tay-K’s second murder conviction. In 2019, he was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in the 2016 shooting death of Ethan Walker during a home invasion in Tarrant County. He was also given 30 years for aggravated robbery and two 13-year sentences for related charges, all of which are being served concurrently.