Rappers YNW Melly, YNW Bortlen charged with two counts of murder in other rappers' deaths

Mary Helen Moore and Dan Rorabaugh
Updated
Jamell Demons, left, aka YNW Melly, and Cortlen Henry, aka YNW Bortlen.
Jamell Demons, left, aka YNW Melly, and Cortlen Henry, aka YNW Bortlen.

Two musicians from the same group as two rappers gunned down in South Florida last year were arrested in connection with their deaths.

Jamell Demons, aka YNW Melly, 19, turned himself in to officials in Broward County, Florida, on Wednesday night.

Cortlen Henry, aka YNW Bortlen, 20, was arrested in Texas and extradited to Broward County on Tuesday.

Both were charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Henry also was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact.

Their friends – Christopher Thomas Jr., 19, and Anthony Williams, 21 – both were driven to a hospital in Miramar, Florida, about 4:35 a.m. on a Friday in late October, police said.

Anthony Williams Jr, 21, also known as YNW Sakchaser (left), and Christopher Thomas Jr., 19, also known as YNW Juvy
Anthony Williams Jr, 21, also known as YNW Sakchaser (left), and Christopher Thomas Jr., 19, also known as YNW Juvy

Previously: Treasure Coast rappers YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser shot and killed in South Florida

"They arrived with multiple gunshot wounds. They were dead already," Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues said at the time. Police said an investigation concluded that Demons shot and killed Williams and Thomas. Police said Demons and Henry staged the crime scene to resemble a drive-by shooting.

Thomas went by the stage name YNW Juvy, while Williams was known as YNW Sakchaser.

YNW Melly has about a million social media followers and his most famous song, "Murder on my Mind," has more than 42 million views on YouTube.

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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Rappers YNW Melly, YNW Bortlen charged with two counts of murder in other rappers' deaths