Tay-K's manager Ezra Averill confirmed in an Instagram story post that the 17-year-old rapper is not facing the death penalty. "OH YEA AND AINT NO DEATH PENALTY OVER HERE #FREETAYK," Avrill wrote in the message, seen below. Tay-K is currently in prison awaiting trial for two capitol murder charges and one count of aggravated robbery.
Avrill's post puts an end to rumors that began following a shooting in a Santa Fe high school earlier this week. Soon after the incident, an unverified claim began to circulate claiming that the alleged perpetrator, 17 year-old Dimitrious Pagourtzis, would not face the death penalty, while Tay-K would for his charges. The apparent racial discrepancy was highlighted by T.I. in an Instagram post. He wrote: "We MUST START STANDING BY OURS THE SAME WAY THEY STAND BY THEIRS!!!!!"
According to research by PolitiFact, both Tay-K and Pagourtzis will both be eligible for parole if convicted, and the Supreme Court banned the death penalty for minors in 2005.
The FADER has reached out to Tay-K's attorneys for more information.
Thumbnail via Tay-K's Instagram
