Dallas rapper Yella Beezy has been found guilty of capital murder in the 2020 shooting death of fellow artist Mo3.
Yella Beezy, whose legal name is Markies Conway, was accused of arranging the killing of Mo3, whose legal name was Melvin Noble. The verdict came after a trial that lasted more than two weeks and included testimony about the long-running conflict between the two rappers.
Conway pleaded not guilty to allegations that he offered $40,000 to Kewon White and another man, Devin Brown, to carry out the shooting.
White was identified by prosecutors as the gunman. He was convicted last month and sentenced to life in prison. Brown is also accused of involvement in the killing and is expected to face trial in the near future.
Following the guilty verdict, Conway moved into the punishment phase of his trial and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The case centered on the November 2020 ambush of Mo3. The shooting occurred on Interstate 35 in Dallas and drew significant attention because both Noble and Conway were known figures in the city’s rap scene.
One of the most emotional moments of the trial came when a doctor testified about witnessing the shooting. The physician reportedly risked his own safety to help Mo3 after the attack and described the chaotic scene on the highway.
The doctor’s testimony gave jurors a firsthand account of the immediate aftermath of the shooting and the efforts made to assist Noble after he was wounded.
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Jurors also heard testimony from rapper Jose Bodega, whose legal name is Theodore Thomas. Thomas previously told a grand jury that Conway and Noble had been involved in a feud.
During the trial, however, Thomas claimed that he had fabricated the account. Because his trial testimony differed from his earlier statements, the judge allowed prosecutors to treat him as a hostile witness.
The testimony was part of the prosecution’s effort to establish the relationship between Conway and Noble, as well as the possible motive behind the attack. Prosecutors argued that the shooting was not random and that Conway helped orchestrate the killing because of the conflict between the artists. The defense disputed the allegations and maintained that Conway was not responsible for Noble’s death. The guilty verdict makes Conway the second person convicted in connection with the killing. White’s conviction and life sentence had already established the prosecution’s case against the alleged gunman.
Mo3 was a respected figure in Dallas hip-hop and had built a strong following before his death. His killing shocked the local music community and led to renewed concerns about violence involving rappers and the dangers of public rivalries.
Conway had also achieved recognition during his career. Before his arrest in the murder case, he had opened for major artists including Jay-Z and Beyoncé, helping establish himself as one of Dallas’ prominent rap performers.
The rapper had previously faced other legal trouble. In 2021, he was arrested in Collin County on charges including sexual assault, abandonment of an endangered child, and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Those charges were later dismissed.
Conway was also the victim of a shooting in 2018. He was shot multiple times while inside a vehicle on the Sam Rayburn Tollway in Lewisville and survived the attack.
The history of violence surrounding Conway’s life and career became part of the broader context of the case, though the current conviction is based on the evidence presented in the Mo3 murder trial. The prosecution must now proceed with the punishment phase, where jurors will consider the appropriate sentence for the capital murder conviction. The outcome could determine whether Conway receives life in prison or a harsher penalty under Texas law.
Brown’s upcoming trial could provide additional testimony about the alleged plot and the events leading up to Noble’s death. Until that proceeding begins, the full extent of his alleged role remains unresolved.
Conway’s conviction marks a major development in a case that has remained one of the most closely followed criminal matters involving Dallas’ rap community. Mo3’s family and supporters have waited years for the case to reach a verdict, while Conway’s legal team is expected to continue challenging the prosecution’s case during the sentencing and appeals process.
The allegations against Brown remain unresolved, and Conway is entitled to appeal the conviction.