Detectives identify rapper YNW Melly's slain friends

Detectives investigate double murder in Broward County

MIRAMAR, Fla. ā€“ JamellĀ Maurice Demons, a 19-year-old Florida Treasure Coast rapper better known as YNW Melly, was mourning two of his best friends.Ā 

On Tuesday, Miramar Police Department detectives were searching for the killers of two rappers, 19-year-old Christopher "YNW Juvy"Ā Thomas and 21-year-oldĀ Anthony "YNW Sakchaser"Ā Williams.

"They took my brothers from me over jealousy," Demons wroteĀ to his nearly 22,000 followers on Twitter. He alsoĀ added, the killers "want to see me break down and stop or in jail or a box."

According to Tania Rues, a spokeswoman for the MiramarĀ Police Department, the victims were last seen alive about 3:20 a.m., on Friday, in Fort Lauderdale.Ā Detective Carlos Villalona said the victims arrivedĀ at Memorial Hospital Miramar about 4:35 a.m.Ā 

VillalonaĀ said a third manĀ was wounded, but Rues said detectivesĀ are withholding the identity of the driver who arrived to the hospital with Thomas and Williams.Ā Early Saturday morning, a crime scene investigatorĀ wasĀ taking pictures of aĀ gray Jeep with a shattered back window.

Thomas' last share on his popularĀ Instagram account was a picture of Demons performing on stage Oct. 21.Ā 

"Extra Super Proud of You," Thomas wrote.Ā 

This isn't the first time gun violence hurts Demons. When heĀ was 16 years old, he was involved in a shoot out near Vero Beach High School in Indian River County, and he had to spend time behind bars on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of discharging a firearm in public. Ā 

Demons told The FaderĀ he focused on his music while in jail, and found success on SoundCloud.Ā In June, the Florida Highway Patrol arrested Demons in Lee County on possession of a weapon by a convicted felon,Ā possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana andĀ drug equipment possession.

DemonsĀ told The FaderĀ that he moved out of Indian River County to Miami,Ā because he feared for his life and "had to get out of that environment."Ā 

Miramar detectivesĀ are asking anyone with information about the double murder toĀ call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.