Yella Beezy, born Markies Deandre Conway, is again making headlines — this time, not for his music, but because of a judge’s recent refusal to allow him to watch his young son play football. Under house arrest for a capital murder charge related to the 2020 shooting of rapper Mo3, Beezy’s court woes are fueling public debate over justice, fatherhood, and celebrity responsibility.
Court documents filed on April 18 stated that Beezy petitioned to have the terms of his bond modified so that he could be permitted to visit his son to watch him play football to support him. Judge Gracie Lewis dismissed this, citing the gravity of the charges mounted against him, as well as the strict release conditions previously agreed to.
This decision brings an added element of personal drama to an already intriguing case — one that’s fascinated Dallas and beyond.
Beezy came into the spotlight in 2017 with That’s On Me, one of the songs that opened up doors for him to feature big artists like Lil Wayne, Quavo, and Gucci Mane. His music put the spotlight on the Dallas rap world, and Beezy basked in the glory of success for a while.
Legal trouble soon ensued. In 2021, he was arrested on charges including unlawful carrying of a firearm to sexual assault and child endangerment — all of which have since been dismissed. In 2018, he survived a high-profile drive-by shooting, an incident many assumed was related to feuds in the local rap community.
Now, he is at the focal point of one of the most severe criminal cases the city has seen in recent times.
Beezy was indicted by a March 2025 Dallas County grand jury on one charge of capital murder. The prosecutor alleges that he hired Kewon Dontrell White to murder up-and-coming rapper Mo3 in 2020.
The killing was committed in broad daylight along Interstate 35E in Dallas. White was said to have pursued Mo3 on foot following a high-speed car chase, before fatally shooting him several times. A bystander was also hit by bullets but managed to survive. Police investigators cite as possible proof of payment for the alleged contract killing a $40,000 cash withdrawal made by Beezy soon after the shooting. Witnesses are to tell the jury that Beezy negotiated paying White for the crime. The crime scene was characterized by intense violence — 44 shell casings were found on the highway.
Originally held on bond for $2 million, Beezy’s lawyers managed to persuade the court to reduce it. In court on March 26, the family testified that they couldn’t afford the bond because they were suffering financially. Judge Gracie Lewis lowered the bond to $750,000, but it came with strenuous conditions.
These consist of home confinement under tight restrictions, electronic monitoring by an ankle device, random drug screening, the surrendering of his passport, and prohibition from communicating with any of the witnesses or victims involved.
And now, even after Beezy’s plea to tweak those conditions slightly to be able to watch his son play sports, the court has remained steadfast.
Reaction to the judge’s ruling has been intense, especially on social media site X. Some have sympathized with Beezy’s wish to be present for his child, but numerous others have been frustrated and incredulous.
“Capital murder charges but he wants sideline privileges?”
one commented. Another said,
“Actions have consequences — even if you’re a dad.”
The case has sparked wider debate on the justice system, parenting, and the duties of high-profile figures. Some view fatherhood as an issue to be considered by the courts on questions of bond, while others hold that the nature of the charges trumps individual pleas.
