The federal murder trial against Kewon White, the man accused of gunning down Dallas rapper MO3 in 2020, is set to resume Friday with FBI agents expected to take the stand.
MO3, whose legal name was Melvin Noble, was shot and killed on November 11, 2020, in what prosecutors describe as a coordinated murder-for-hire plot. White is the first of three co-defendants to face trial and is accused of being the triggerman in the killing.
The trial’s first week featured testimony from forensic specialists, law enforcement officers, and Noble’s former girlfriend. Jurors also heard from residents of an apartment complex Noble visited shortly before his death, as well as individuals who provided surveillance footage to investigators.
Prosecutors played multiple rap songs for the jury this week, including MO3’s track “219” and Yella Beezy’s songs “Keep It in the Streets” and “On Yo Head.” The state argues these lyrics help establish motive and intent behind the alleged killing.
The prosecution contends that a feud between rappers MO3, TrapBoyFredy, and Yella Beezy fueled the murder plot. Yella Beezy, whose real name is Markies Conway, is accused of orchestrating the killing. A third co-defendant, Devin Brown, is accused of helping coordinate the shooting.
Phone records, bank statements, and social media activity linked to White were also presented as evidence during the week. Defense attorneys have pushed back, arguing that portions of the evidence shown to jurors have no direct connection to their client.
The case drew national attention in part due to a legal battle over whether rap lyrics could be admitted as evidence. A Dallas police detective testified during pretrial hearings that several songs support the state’s murder-for-hire theory and that the suspected shooter appeared on stage with Conway at a concert prior to the killing.
A judge ultimately ruled that three of the rapper’s songs would be admissible at trial. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
