Tay-K Found Guilty of Murder in Deadly Shooting Case

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – In a pivotal moment for the city, rapper Taymor “Tay-K” McIntyre was found guilty of the lesser charge of murder on April 14, 2025, in connection with the shooting death of 20-year-old photographer Mark Anthony Saldivar. McIntyre had been facing charges of capital murder, but jurors deliberated for a week before reaching their verdict.

The jury began the sentencing phase the same afternoon after deliberations concluded. They could consider lesser charges such as manslaughter, which may lead to different sentencing options.

Saldivar was shot on April 23, 2017, outside a Chick-fil-A across from North Star Mall after a reported dispute involving his photography equipment. Prosecutors allege McIntyre fatally shot Saldivar during a robbery attempt. If found guilty of capital murder, McIntyre would face an automatic life sentence in prison.

During the trial, McIntyre’s defense attorney, John Hunter, maintained his client’s innocence. “Taymor McIntyre is not guilty of capital murder, murder or manslaughter, and the reason for that is very simple,” Hunter told jurors. “You have to do it right. You have to do the work, and this case clearly demonstrates the work wasn’t done.”

Prosecutor Jason Garrahan urged the jury to hold McIntyre accountable. “Go to capital murder and say guilty of capital murder because we have proven every single moment beyond a reasonable doubt and Mark Anthony Saldivar deserves justice,” Garrahan said.

Complicating matters, McIntyre was already serving a 55-year sentence for a separate murder case in Tarrant County when he was arrested in connection with Saldivar’s death. He initially gained notoriety through his viral song “The Race” while evading capture.

Key testimony in the trial came from Joanna Reyes, McIntyre’s former girlfriend, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the shooting. She testified that McIntyre shot Saldivar after he climbed onto the car’s hood in an effort to retrieve his belongings. Reyes accepted a plea deal for probation on a related charge of tampering with evidence.

Defense attorneys argued that evidence failed to conclusively link McIntyre to the crime. Inconsistent witness accounts regarding the shooter’s appearance and the quality of surveillance footage added to the uncertainty.

The jury’s decision concludes eight days of testimony in a case that captured public attention. As the sentencing phase begins, the court awaits to see what penalties McIntyre may face.