Tay-K Sentenced to 80 Years in Prison for Photographer’s 2017 Murder (2025)

Tay-K (real name Taymor McIntyre) was sentenced to 80 years in prison on Tuesday (April 15) for the 2017 murder of photographer Mark Anthony Saldivar, per multiple local news outlets in San Antonio.

“I do realize that while this is a lot of time, you’re still alive. You can still better yourself,” Judge Stephanie Boyd told him during sentencing, according to local CBS affiliate KENS5. “But the complainant in this case is deceased, and you need to internalize that the complainant in this case is deceased. You’re going to have to make changes.”

With his murder conviction and sentencing, “The Race” rapper will have the opportunity for parole since he was acquitted of capital murder. McIntyre was found guilty of killing the 23-year-old photographer following a dispute in April 2017. Tay-K was 16 years old at the time of the shooting.

Authorities said Tay-K and his crew picked up Saldivar and robbed him of his photography equipment before shooting him outside of a San Antonio Chick-fil-A.

Tay-K’s ex-girlfriend Joanna Reyes took the stand earlier this week and testified against the rapper. Reyes was confirmed to be the driver of the car and said she saw her former boyfriend shoot and kill Saldivar. According to local ABC affiliate KSAT, Reyes has pleaded guilty to witness tampering and received a deferred sentencing in exchange for her testimony.

Tay-K was previously convicted in 2019 in connection with a deadly home invasion, when Ethan Walker was shot and killed in 2016. The rapper was accused of coordinating the shooting and hiring the man to carry out the murder of Walker. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison for Walker’s death. Boyd said Tuesday that the two sentences will run concurrently, according to KENS 5.

Tay-K’s rap career took off while on the run for Walker’s murder when “The Race” blew up in 2017, and served as his breakout hit. “F–k a beat, I was tryna beat a case. But I ain’t beat that case, b–h I did the race,” he raps.

The viral track peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified Platinum. Shortly after his initial arrest, Tay-K released a music video for “The Race,” which finds him posing with a wanted poster of himself.

Back in January 2023, Tay-K pleaded to get a second chance at life and regain his freedom in a series of messages posted to X after his sentencing for Walker’s death.

“I really just need 1 chance @ adulthood,” he wrote. “I bet if I was a lil white kid they wouldn’t have gave me no 55 years for a crime I was alleged to play the most insignificant role in when I was 16….they woulda rightfully argued that my mind wasn’t fully developed and gave me rehabilitation and a 2nd (1st) chance at adulthood.”