Suspect in BTB Savage Slaying Identified by Police

BTB Savage and Suspect Montrel Lenard Burley. (Credit: YouTube and Houston PD)

Just over a week after rapper BTB Savage was gunned down on a Houston street, police have identified a suspect in the killing.

The Houston Police Department said Friday Montrel Lenard Burley, 40, has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting. At this time, Burley remains on the run, police said in a news release.

He and at least one other suspect are wanted for the killing. Police did not release the second suspect’s name.

The 26-year-old rapper, real name Darrell Gentry, was fatally shot at about 6:10 p.m. on March 30, in the 2100 block of Mid Lane.

Related StoryRapper BTB Savage Received Threats Before He Was Killed, His Mother Says

Rapper BTB Savage (Credit: Instagram/@btb_.savage)
BTB Savage frequently posted photos of himself holding large amounts of cash on social media. (Credit: Instagram/@btb_.savage)

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, according to police. Responding paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene

Witnesses said the Subaru SUV fled at a high rate of speed.

On the night of the shooting, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner held a news conference and described the shooting as a “targeted incident” because of the number of bullet casings on the ground.

Finner said investigators were reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and homes.

The shooting happened just hours after BTB Savage posted photos on Instagram and Twitter of the blood-stained scene where he said he and his girlfriend killed a would-be robber in self-defense.

In a March 26 interview with DJ Vlad, the rapper offered details on the killing. He said the would-be robber was begging for help after a scuffle, but he told the man: “I don’t give a (expletive) about you. You’re going to die.”

The rapper’s grieving mother, Bernita Ward, later told Houston TV station ABC13 that she believes her son was shot to death in retaliation for killing the other man and posting the photos on social media.

“The moral of this story is two mothers lost two amazing sons and that their children would be raised without fathers,” Ward said. “That’s the sad thing.”

Houston police urged anyone with information on BTB Savage’s slaying to contact the department. They are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that helps lead to an arrest.


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