Dallas rapper Yella Beezy charged in Mo3's murder, accused of hiring hitman

Dallas rapper Markies Deandre Conway, known professionally as Yella Beezy, has been arrested and indicted on a charge of capital murder in connection with the 2020 shooting death of fellow Dallas rapper Melvin Noble, known as Mo3.

A Dallas County grand jury returned the indictment this week, accusing Conway of orchestrating the killing “while remuneration was involved.” That charge implies he allegedly hired someone to carry out the shooting.

Mo3, whose real name was Melvin Noble, was gunned down in broad daylight on Nov. 11, 2020, on Interstate 35E near Marsalis Avenue. Police said Noble was pursued on foot by a gunman after trying to flee from his vehicle, then shot multiple times. The shooting was captured on traffic cameras and widely circulated.

Two men have previously been indicted in connection with the case. Kewon Dontrell White was first charged with murder and was later indicted in February 2021. Devin Maurice Brown was also indicted and accused of helping coordinate the attack.

Investigators linked the suspects through phone records and surveillance data, which placed them near Noble’s location in the hours before the shooting.

Federal prosecutors also brought charges against both White and Brown. White was found with a 9mm pistol after fleeing from officers. Brown, arrested in Limestone County, was indicted on federal drug and weapons charges after investigators found a stolen AK-47, drugs, and cash in his home.

Both men face years in federal prison if convicted.

The indictment did not provide information on why authorities believe Conway hired White to shoot Noble, who also lived in Dallas.

In a Facebook post after Conway's arrest, Noble's mother, Nichole Williams Noble wrote, “Justice for my baby!!!!”

Conway’s arrest marks a major development in a case that stunned fans and the Dallas music scene. Yella Beezy rose to national fame with his 2017 hit “That’s On Me,” which charted on the Billboard Hot 100. He also scored a 2019 hit song “Bacc At It Again” with Quavo and Gucci Mane.

In October 2018, Conway survived being shot while driving on a tollway in the Dallas suburb of Lewisville when someone pulled up next to him and opened fire, hitting him three times.

Noble had more than 800,000 followers on his Instagram page and was best known for a 2019 remix of the song “Errybody,” with Baton Rouge, Louisiana, rapper Boosie Badazz.

As of Friday, Conway remains in the Dallas County Jail. Bond was set at $2 million.

Court records did not list an attorney who could speak on behalf of Conway. Calls and emails to representatives for Conway were not immediately returned.