Select by gender or name

Background

Cleveland rapper Q Money, real name Qamar Akee Williams, started blowing up online because of his music. The songs “Neat” and “Work” garnered millions of views, and he signed a deal with Think It’s A Game Records, followed by a later signing with Warner Bros. Records.

As his fame grew, he didn’t just stay in Cleveland, he travelled around looking for more opportunities.

Atlanta was a hub for black entertainers, and Williams and his friend and fellow rapper Calvin “Scotty” Chappell both ended up in the city in April 2019.

According to the DeKalb DA, on April 14th, 2019, Williams, Chappell, and several others went out to a nightclub. After leaving the club, the two men went to the home of Chappell’s cousin at around 5 am the next morning.

Chappell went to sleep while Williams left the home to get food. He returned at around 6 am and tried to shoot out and disable an in-home security camera, but he failed.

He then walked up to Chappell and shot him 6 times as he slept on a air mattress, then Williams fled the scene.

He later contacted people from the residence asking them to delete the footage of the murder, but they declined.

Williams turned himself in on April 18th.

Self Defense Claims

After his arrest, News5Cleveland posted a statement from his family, part of which read: “As the facts and evidence continue to become available, we are sure that they will show that Qamar acted in self-defense from feeling as though his life was at risk and being threatened.”

Legal Proceedings

He went to trial in DeKalb County in September 2022. The Dekalb DA announced hed was convicted by a jury of his peers of 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.

He was later sentenced to life without parole plus 15 years.

No motive for the crime has ever been released.

Aftermath

When he first got locked up he continued posting on Instagram, talking about being a father no matter what. He also seemed hopeful he could come home one day. He has since deleted everything from that page.

He has also given interviews saying how his faith has developed behind bars.