South Florida rapper, YNW Melly, released a documentary in December that offered a look inside the young rapper’s life including his upbringing and close friendships. The documentary concluded with screen text stating that two of Melly’s friends featured in the documentary were killed in a drive-by shooting four days after the documentary was completed. After their deaths, Melly posted an Instagram tribute to his deceased friends referring to them as his brothers with broken heart Emojis.
Fort Lauderdale wrongful death attorneys know that when someone’s death is caused by another person’s intentional, reckless, or negligent conduct, the deceased’s loved ones want justice and that justice may come in the form of criminal charges and/or a civil claim brought by close family members. In the case of Melly’s friends who were fatally shot, Melly and another friend were recently arrested and charged with their murders and we have yet to see if family members of the deceased men will file wrongful death claims against Melly and the other defendant.
Melly is an aspiring rapper whose star was beginning to rise with several hit songs including a collaboration with Kanye West. Melly and the two men he allegedly killed were lifelong friends and as of yet, there has been no motive revealed for the double murder. The day Melly was arrested he seemed to still maintain his innocence by stating in an Instagram post that he had lost his brothers and a lot of rumors and lies were being spread.
On the night of the murders, Melly’s friend, Cortlen Henry, reportedly arrived at a local hospital with the bullet riddled bodies of the two deceased men in his car claiming that they were victims of a drive-by shooting. When police investigated the murders, they discovered inconsistencies and inaccuracies in Henry’s story and evidence that did not seem to add up. Police believe that Melly and Henry staged the drive-by shooting evidence after Melly had murdered the men.
Questionable evidence included bullet holes in one side of the vehicle that did not line up with autopsy findings as well as a shell casing that was found inside the vehicle rather than outside of the vehicle where casings would have been had someone been shooting from the outside. Police believe the fatal shots were fired from inside the vehicle.
What we know right now is that Melly has been charged with two counts of first degree murder and he remains in jail with no bond as ordered by the judge in his case. He is awaiting trial and is facing the possibility of life in prison if he is convicted.
Wrongful death claims are meant to compensate family members who have lost a loved due to someone else’s wrongful conduct. As mentioned above, wrongful conduct does not have to be intentional; reckless and negligent conduct resulting in someone else’s death may validate a wrongful death claim as well. If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s wrongful acts, contact a Fort Lauderdale wrongful death attorney at Vladimir Tsirkin & Associates, P.A. to schedule a consultation.
