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A Bexar County jury has sentenced Texas rapper Taymor “Tay-K” McIntyre to 80 years in prison for the 2017 murder of Mark Anthony Saldivar outside a Chick-fil-A in San Antonio — marking the second murder conviction for the 24-year-old artist best known for his viral hit “The Race.” The verdict came Tuesday evening after four hours of jury deliberation. While the jury found McIntyre not guilty of capital murder, they convicted him of the lesser charge of murder, carrying a possible life sentence with parole eligibility and a fine of up to $10,000.
Judge Stephanie Boyd ordered that the new sentence run concurrently with the 55-year prison term McIntyre is already serving for a 2016 murder in Tarrant County. Details of the Crime Prosecutors said McIntyre was 16 when he and a group of friends attempted to rob Saldivar, a local photographer who had been asked to shoot images for one of Tay-K’s upcoming songs. While stopped at a traffic light near NE Loop 410 and McCullough, McIntyre allegedly pointed a gun at Saldivar and demanded his backpack, which contained his camera gear.
Eyewitnesses testified that a black car was seen with a front passenger—allegedly McIntyre—assaulting a man in the back seat while brandishing a weapon. The man, later identified as Saldivar, was then forced out of the vehicle before being fatally shot. A Contentious Trial During the trial, defense attorney John Hunter questioned the integrity of the police investigation, calling it “lazy” and overly reliant on statements from other individuals in the car, particularly Joanna Reyes — McIntyre’s ex-girlfriend and the driver that night.
Reyes, initially charged with capital murder, agreed to a plea deal for a reduced charge of tampering with evidence in exchange for her testimony. She was the only witness who identified McIntyre as the shooter. The defense argued that her plea agreement incentivized false testimony.
Meanwhile, prosecutors emphasized McIntyre’s violent behavior and lack of remorse, referencing his lyrics in “The Race,” a song he recorded while on the run from police in connection with the Tarrant County murder. “He glamorized being a fugitive,” said prosecutor Meghan Galloway. “Asking for sympathy is a slap in the face to every child of abuse who still chooses to follow the law.
” A Troubled Past, a Grim Future During the sentencing phase, McIntyre’s sister, Kayla Beverly, testified to the siblings’ difficult upbringing — separated from their mother at a young age and raised in foster care while their father served time in prison. Hunter urged the jury to consider McIntyre’s background and youth, asking for mercy. “We can avoid turning one tragedy into two,” he said.
Ultimately, the jury sided with prosecutors, handing down the 80-year sentence. The ruling closes another chapter in one of Texas’ most closely watched criminal cases — one that ignited national debate about juvenile justice, rap lyrics in courtrooms, and the blurred line between art and accountability. Tay-K remains incarcerated, serving both sentences concurrently.
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