YNW Melly's career has been put on pause as the young rapper faces first-degree murder charges in the deaths of two of his childhood friends,  Christopher Thomas Jr. and Anthony Williams. Melly has entered a not guilty plea along with Cortlen Henry, a friend of Melly's who is also accused of staging the deaths of Thomas and Williams.

According to police, Melly, real name Jamell Maurice Demons, was the person who pulled the trigger in the double murder, but both he and Henry concocted the scheme. Investigators say that the pair killed the two men inside of a vehicle, drove the dead bodies around in the car, and then took the deceased men to the hospital and claimed that they were shot in a drive-by.

Broward's Sheriff's Office via Getty Images

The mother of Williams, a woman named Jana Thompson, told TMZ that her son was good friends with Melly and Henry, and loved them dearly. She said they were all like brothers and "we opened up our homes and our hearts to them." Thompson even says that Melly was so close to her family that he got Thompson's name tattooed on his neck. He reportedly got the ink, which is clearly visible in his mugshot photo, to show his loyalty to Williams and his family.

Thompson told the publication that she can't believe that Melly and Henry are the people that police believe are responsible for the death of her son, calling the pair's not guilty pleas "another stab in the heart to myself and my family." She goes on to say, "It’s inconceivable that these very people are the ones responsible for this horrifying murder. I will not stand idle and will fight vehemently for justice!”

If she can, Thompson will file civil suits against both men. 

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