Christian Rapper Who Ran Down Friend Sentenced for 2nd-Degree Murder

CLARKSBURG, MD — A Christian rapper from Germantown who confessed that he intentionally ran down a collaborator after an argument about CDs has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, with 12 years suspended, for second-degree murder.

Ryan Anthony Salandy, 27, of Germantown, was initially charged with first-degree murder in the September 2015 death of William Dean McDaniel, 25, of the 23000 block of Sweetspire Drive in Clarksburg. Salandy was convicted Sept. 27, 2016, of second-degree murder.

Montgomery County Police were called to the 23000 block of Sweetspire Drive in Clarksburg for the report of a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle. Officers found located McDaniel dead in the roadway. Salandy had fled from the scene.

About 30 minutes later, police received a tip that the driver and the vehicle involved in the fatal collision were at a residence on Amber Ridge Circle in the Milestone area of Germantown. Officers went to that address and located the vehicle and its driver, identified as Salandy.

Authorities say Salandy and McDaniel argued about a contract; McDaniel had produced some of Salandy’s music. While Salandy initially drove away from the argument, he circled back to Sweetspire Drive, where he struck McDaniel with his 2006 Saab and then left the scene.

Prosecutors say cell phone records show Salandy became furious as he waited for McDaniel to make 150 CDs of his gospel rap tunes; Salandy had paid $300 for the work.

Investigators say Salandy was driving between 37 and 49 miles per hour when his Saab hit McDaniel. Salandy didn't brake, swerve, or call 911 after the impact threw the 300-pound McDaniel into the air, and broke every bone in his legs, reports WJLA.

»Photo of Ryan Salandy courtesy of Montgomery County Police