Context/Details:
Cleveland rapper Q Money, whose real name is Qamar Akee Williams, was found guilty of murder in the 2019 fatal shooting of fellow Cleveland artist Calvin Alexander Chappell in Decatur, Georgia.
Williams, 28, faced charges including malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The incident occurred on September 15, 2019, at Chappellโs cousin's home. Williams and Chappell, both aspiring rappers who had relocated from Cleveland to the Atlanta area, had been out at a nightclub the night before the shooting. The group returned around 5 a.m., and Chappell went to sleep. Williams left to get food but returned shortly after 6 a.m. Surveillance footage captured Williams approaching Chappell, who was lying on an air mattress, and shooting him more than six times, including in the head.
Police found several fired bullet casings near Chappellโs body. It was later discovered that Williams attempted to shoot and disable the camera before the shooting and called a friend to delete the video.
Williams turned himself in on September 18, 2019. The motive for the shooting was not provided by the rapper.
Q Money's defense team suggested that he had been experiencing mental health issues, including paranoia, at the time of the incident. They argued that he did not have a clear motive for killing Chappell and that there was no premeditation involved.
In December 2023, after a trial that lasted several days, Q Money was found guilty of murder. The jury deliberated for about an hour before reaching their verdict. The conviction carries a sentence of life in prison. The judge has the discretion to decide whether Q Money will have the possibility of parole.
Williams had a previous conviction for drug trafficking in 2014 and was connected to an incident in 2018 where seven people were shot, and one man died during the filming of his rap video for the song โNeat.โ
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