Transman Evon Young, 22, a Milwaukee rapper under the name Yung LT, disappeared New Year's Day. Police investigation led them to believe that 5 men killed Young in the basement of his own home, then disposed of his body in a dumpster. A local landfill was searched but his body was never found.
I reported on the killing and search at the time, mostly because of the disrespectful way with which the local media dealt with the gender of the victim.
On Thursday Ashanti Mcalister, 19, was found guilty of First Degree Intentional Homicide of Young.
According to the criminal complaint Mcalister, Victor Stewart, Ron Allen, and Joseph Seaberry arrived at the residence shared by Young and Billy Griffin. It is believed that they did so because Griffin believed that Young conspired to have their home burglarized. Stewart is Griffin's cousin and a high-ranking member of the Black P-Stone gang.
Earlier this month a jury deadlocked in the trial of Griffin. A new trial is scheduled for September.
Two of the suspects are reported to have pleaded guilty, one of whom testified at Griffin's trial that Griffin was only involved in clean-up efforts.
During the four-day trial last week, Griffin alleged that his roommate was his musical collaborator and best friend. The prosecuting attorney, Assistant District Attorney Grant Huebner, argued that Griffin's false story after Young's disappearance — that his roommate had gotten into a car outside their home and simply never returned — called his allegiance to Young into question. Defense attorney Charles Glynn said his client feared gang reprisal.
--WTMJ
Griffin had told police that Stewart arrived at their home with three other gang members and said that Young could no longer be trusted. Griffin said the gang members then took Young to the basement, where they choked, beat and shot him. Then they wrapped his body in a sheet and put him in a car.
Stewart pleaded guilty in early June to a reduced charge of Second-Degree Reckless Homocide. He testified at Griffin's trial in return for the lesser charge. Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
It is alleged that Mcalister pointed a gun at Young while the others beat and strangled Young. Mcalister also is claimed to have taken part in the beating. After Young was dead, Mcalister is alleged to have fired three bullets into Young's body.
Mcalister is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12.
Here is one of Yung LT's rap songs, Born 2 Do Me:
Disclaimer: I am not a rap aficionado and hence have no idea whether or not this is good.