Houston Rapper OMB Bloodbath Found Guilty in Federal Murder Retrial
Houston rapper OMB Bloodbath, whose legal name is Alexandra Nicks, was convicted alongside alleged 103 street gang leader Shaquille Richards after a federal jury found the pair guilty of murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm to commit murder during a racketeering offense. The verdict follows a nine-day retrial stemming from a 2017 retaliatory drive-by shooting in Houston’s Third Ward.
The verdict concluded a federal trial in which prosecutors alleged that Nicks and Richards directed the 103 street gang during a violent, long-standing feud with the rival Young Scott Block (YSB) gang. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the government successfully argued that the defendants ordered lower-ranking gang members to execute a retaliatory attack following a series of homicides that had escalated tensions between the two organizations.
Evidence and Trial Details
Trial evidence presented to the jury showed that on October 16, 2017, four alleged 103 gang members entered YSB territory armed with multiple high-capacity firearms, including weapons equipped with 50-round and 100-round drum magazines. Prosecutors stated that the gunmen opened fire immediately upon spotting an alleged rival gang member on a street corner.
While the intended target of the shooting survived, a 53-year-old bystander standing outside a nearby residence was struck by gunfire and succumbed to his injuries. Federal authorities noted that the victim had no affiliation with either gang. Following the shooting, the suspects reportedly crashed their vehicle while fleeing the scene, leading to a carjacking involving a woman and her infant, while another participant was apprehended nearby after attempting to discard a firearm and clothing.
Justice Department Response
To secure the racketeering convictions, prosecutors utilized a combination of jail telephone calls, social media evidence, and witness testimony to establish that Nicks and Richards orchestrated the violence. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva remarked that the gang war had plagued Houston’s Third Ward community for years.
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to dismantling violent gang activity. “If you wage war on our streets, terrorize our communities, and put innocent Texans in the crosshairs, my office will come for you,” Reitz stated.
Four co-defendants—Deandre Watson, Mertroy Harris, Marcus Christopher, and Marquis Erskin—previously entered guilty pleas and are scheduled for sentencing on September 2, with each facing a potential life sentence. Nicks and Richards are awaiting sentencing by U.S. District Judge George Hanks.