Tay-K
Taymor Travon McIntyre, better known by his stage name Tay-K, is an American convicted murderer and former rapper. He is best known for his 2017 song "The Race", which peaked at number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. Its lyrics detailed criminal activity carried out by McIntyre, and became popular following a nationwide manhunt that led to his arrest and eventual conviction for murder.
McIntyre spent parts of his childhood in California and Nevada before settling in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in Texas at the age of ten. After dropping out of high school during his freshman year, he began his music career as a member of the rap group Daytona Boyz in 2014. In July 2016, he was charged in connection with a home invasion and robbery that left 21-year-old Ethan Walker dead. He was released in January 2017 on house arrest until his trial. In March of that year, Tay-K cut off his ankle monitor and went on the run.
McIntyre was captured by U.S. marshals in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on June 30, 2017—the same day "The Race" was released—after three months evading authorities. Upon his detainment and subsequent transportation back to Texas, McIntyre received online support from fans of the song. While being held at Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, Tay-K's management team released his second mixtape, Santana World, which was met with generally positive critical reception and entered the Billboard 200.
In July 2019, McIntyre was found guilty of murder for his involvement in the 2016 home invasion resulting in the death of Ethan Walker. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison. In November 2019, McIntyre was indicted on a second murder charge, for shooting 23-year-old Mark Anthony Saldivar while on the run in 2017; he was convicted in April 2025 and sentenced to 80 years in prison.
Early life
McIntyre was born in Long Beach, California, on June 16, 2000. His father was imprisoned during McIntyre's youth. McIntyre's mother moved him and his sister to Las Vegas, Nevada, when he was eight years old. Two years later, when McIntyre's father was released from prison, he moved the family to Arlington, Texas, in search of a better environment. McIntyre attended Young Junior High School and Martin High School. He dropped out during his freshman year. He was influenced by Chief Keef, Eazy-E, Young Pappy, Lud Foe, and his favorite rapper Soulja Boy.Career
McIntyre started his rap career as part of the rap group Daytona Boyz alongside rappers Pimpyz and Santana Sage in 2014. The group released their first track "Drift" on audio distribution platform SoundCloud on December 25, 2014. The group released a series of songs, barely getting attention as they performed at various parties attempting to create a presence in the local rap scene.McIntyre released his first solo song in August 2015 titled "BIFF XANNEN" on his SoundCloud account. This and his September 2015 song "Sly Cooper" garnered local attention within the Arlington rap scene. McIntyre's song "Megaman" was released on his SoundCloud on March 16, 2016, and, along with several other songs McIntyre released, became popular after he was arrested on capital murder charges.
McIntyre released several songs while on the run from the police, including "The Race" which was recorded during McIntyre's stay in New Jersey. The music video was released on YouTube the same day as his capture. The song debuted at number 70 on the US Billboard Hot 100 after a large hashtag campaign pursuing the release of McIntyre using the hashtag "#FREETAYK". It peaked at 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has over 255 million views on YouTube. "The Race" has been remixed by numerous artists including Tyga, Lil Yachty, YBN Nahmir, Fetty Wap, and Rico Nasty among others.
While incarcerated, McIntyre released the mixtape Santana World. WorldStarHipHop released "Coolin" on September 14, 2017. McIntyre's official Twitter account tweeted that the version released by WorldStarHipHop was a leak and not official, saying "we have something major in store." The track was later released on November 7, 2025, as a single, along with two other tracks "Half Off" and "Lay Low."
On December 14, 2017, McIntyre's debut mixtape Santana World was re-released by 88 Classic and RCA Records, which was updated with a remix of his single "The Race" featuring vocals from rappers 21 Savage and Young Nudy. "The Race" was certified platinum by the RIAA in January 2018. On February 2, 2018, McIntyre's official Twitter account tweeted two pictures of McIntyre, the first time he had been seen since May 2017. The following day, the song "After You" was released on McIntyre's SoundCloud account.
It was revealed in March 2018 that McIntyre had earned around $600,000 to $700,000 with his record deal with 88 Classic and RCA Records. Following the creation of the No Jumper music label, Tay-K was featured alongside BlocBoy JB on No Jumper's song "Hard" which entered the Bubbling Under Hot 100 charts at number 14. Tay-K was featured on the shortlist for the 2018 XXL Freshman list.
On November 23, 2019, McIntyre's Twitter account was maintained by a family member, against his manager, Ezra Averill's wishes. The relative tweeted numerous claims on the rapper's behalf, citing disaffection with his contract with 88 Classic and RCA, as well as his strained communication from Averill, promising to help McIntyre "make sure the truth about my life and my character gets out with or without management or a label". The tweets read:
Averill later retweeted the topic with an additional reply, "Change the narrative. It begins now #FreeTayK".
Legal issues
New Year's Day 2016: Bystander to a fatal shooting
McIntyre's legal problems began on January 1, 2016. After performing at a New Year’s Eve celebration event in Denton, Texas, McIntyre was in a car with U.S. Marine and fellow Daytona Boyz member Eric "Santana Sage" Johnson, who shot University of North Texas student Sara Mutschlechner in the head, killing her, following an argument between occupants of the car carrying Johnson and McIntyre, and occupants of another car carrying people leaving the same party, including Mutschlechner.Witnesses stated that passengers in the car carrying Johnson and McIntyre sexually accosted Mutschlechner. Johnson pleaded not guilty but was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 44 years in prison. McIntyre was not charged in the case.
July 2016–2019: Mansfield burglary and capital murder
In July 2016, McIntyre and six other people were arrested on capital murder charges, related to a home invasion that resulted in the death of Ethan Walker in Mansfield, Texas. On July 26, 2016, Megan Holt, 19, and Ariana Bharrat, 20, conspired with McIntyre and other friends to rob 17-year-old Zachary Beloate. The pair planned to seduce him and then let McIntyre enter the house, armed with guns, to steal drugs and money. One of the two women unlocked the door and the gunmen proceeded to rob Beloate and his friend Ethan Walker, which led to a fatal confrontation and the death of Walker as they were attempting to leave. Two other non-fatal gunshot wounds were sustained. McIntyre admitted his role in the botched robbery in an approximate two-and-a-half-hour interrogation, telling detectives that he searched for drugs in the house.McIntyre was transferred to an adult jail in July 2017. A preliminary certification hearing to decide McIntyre's status as a juvenile was held in August 2017. Trent Loftin, a lawyer for McIntyre, said to The New York Times that McIntyre was optimistic and that they were confident he would be cleared of all charges. It was decided that McIntyre would be tried as an adult in the case. The trial was eventually pushed back due to lack of evidence.
In February 2018, one of McIntyre's accomplices, an unnamed minor described as a "petite, pretty blonde" was sentenced to twenty years in prison after being found guilty on capital murder and aggravated robbery charges. In February 2018, accomplice Megan Holt pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and agreed to testify against her co-defendants in exchange for a 20-year sentence. In May 2018, Latharian Merritt was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being convicted of capital murder. In August 2018, Ariana Bharrat pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In August 2018, Sean Robinson pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. In November 2018, McIntyre's last accomplice, Jalen Bell, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery charges and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
McIntyre's defense attorneys argued that because McIntyre's case had started in the juvenile system — which does not have a bail or bond system in place — he was now entitled to one under Texas law. State District Judge Wayne Salvant denied McIntyre's request for bond, expressing concern that McIntyre's alleged crimes had been "glorified" and that he was a "high, violent assessment".
In May 2018, it was confirmed McIntyre was not facing the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole under Miller v. Alabama and Roper v. Simmons. If convicted, he faced 40 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
On July 15, 2019, on the first day of his trial, McIntyre pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery in the Mansfield home invasion case. On July 19, 2019, a jury found McIntyre guilty of murder and a third count of aggravated robbery. He faced up to 99 years in prison. His single, "The Race", which was written while he was on the run from the U.S. Marshals Service, was introduced as evidence during the sentencing phase of the trial.
On July 23, 2019, he was given 55 years for murder, 30 years for one count of aggravated robbery, and 26 years for the remaining two counts of aggravated robbery. The four prison terms will be served concurrently. He will be eligible for parole after serving twenty-eight years. He was fined $21,000, $10,000 for the murder charge and $11,000 combined for three counts of aggravated robbery.