Just over a week after rapper BTB Savage was gunned down on a Houston street, police have identified a suspect in the murder.
The Houston Police Department said Friday that Montrel Lenard Burley, 40, has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting.
Burley remains at large, police said in a news release. He and at least one other suspect are wanted for the murder. Police did not release the name of the second suspect.
The 26-year-old rapper, real name Darrell Gentry, was shot and killed around 6.10pm on March 30, in the 2100 block of Mid Lane.
Related story: Rapper BTB Savage received threats before he was killed, says his mother
Police previously said the up-and-coming music artist was driving a white Mercedes when a black Subaru SUV with at least two people inside drove up and opened fire.
BTB Savage suffered at least one gunshot wound, police say. Paramedics said he died at the scene
Witnesses said the Subaru SUV drove away at high speed.
On the night of the shooting, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner held a press conference and describes the shooting as a “targeted incident” due to the number of casings on the ground.
Finner said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage of nearby businesses and homes.
Filming took place just hours after BTB Savage pictures posted on Instagram and Twitter of the bloodstained scene where he said he and his girlfriend killed a would-be thief in self-defense.
In a March 26 interview with DJ Vlad, the rapper opened up about the murder. He said the would-be thief was asking for help after a fight, but he told the man, “I don’t give a damn about you. You are going to die.”
The rapper’s grieving mother, Bernita Ward, later told Houston TV station ABC13 that she believed her son was shot in retaliation for killing the other man and posted the graphic photos on social media .
“The moral of this story is that two mothers lost two amazing sons and their children would be raised without a father,” Ward said. “That’s the saddest thing.”
Houston police have urged anyone with information about BTB Savage’s murder to contact the department. They offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information that helps lead to an arrest.