YNW Melly is fearing for his life after testing positive for coronavirus.
The incarcerated rapper is asking a judge to let him out of jail, claiming that he’s on the verge of dying from COVID-19, TMZ reports.
His lawyer, Bradford Cohen, has filed an emergency motion for restricted release, revealing that Melly is experiencing symptoms including severe chills, heavy breathing, headaches, and body aches since he tested positive for the virus.
According to Cohen, Melly now weighs 114 pounds. He also says that the Broward County Jail in Florida where Melly is being held is not prepared to deal with the pandemic and doesn’t have masks or proper cleaning supplies. Additionally, medical personnel are not monitoring him every hour like they’re supposed to. Cohen claims Melly has been put in a cell with another inmate who also has COVID-19 amid fears that the “virus can be mutated or passed reoccurring between individuals.”
His lawyer is asking the judge to release Melly on house arrest so he can be treated at a medical facility at his own expense.
He has been behind bars since February 2019 while awaiting trial for his double-murder case. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder stemming from the October 2018 shooting of his friends, Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr.
The rapper’s team took to Instagram last week to reveal his diagnosis. “Melly has tested positive for COVID-19 today while awaiting his trial in Broward County Jail,” read the statement. “He’ll be filing a motion for restricted release in hopes of better care due to any jails not being prepared to treat this new virus.”
He has also asked fans for their prayers during this time. “He hopes for your support and to recover soon #prayformelly send positive energy to him please.”
Melly is one of two inmates at Broward County who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Activist groups have called for the release of all nonviolent inmates in order to reduce crowding as infections spread.
