The man convicted of killing David Boykin, a Baltimore rapper who went by the name President Davo, was sentenced to life in prison with an additional 21 years Tuesday.

Earl Lee, 28, of Baltimore’s Mid-Govans neighborhood, was planning to appeal Wednesday, as his attorney, Paul Kramer, said there is no connection between Lee and Boykin. Lee was found guilty in July of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence and illegal possession of a regulated firearm.

Boykin, 28, was shot and killed on the 2000 block of Cliftwood Avenue near Clifton Park on the afternoon of Oct. 6, 2023.

That morning, Lee went to see his parole officer, part of his regular routine, Kramer said. One of Lee’s employees said Lee was working at his cellphone sales business throughout the day, according to Kramer.

Baltimore Police have footage of a suspect believed to be Lee using the alley connecting the 2000 block of Cliftwood Avenue and the 2000 block of Sinclair Lane to execute the shooting and flee the scene, according to charging documents.

Witnesses said they saw Lee fleeing in a white truck, while footage saw the same vehicle leaving the scene shortly after the shooting, charging papers say.

After failing to find Lee and learning of his probation status, authorities arrested him at his following parole and probation meeting in November, charging documents say.

When Lee was arrested, police found a loaded handgun that did not match the murder weapon, Kramer said. During his interview with authorities, Lee admitted to owning the handgun and fatally shooting Boykin, the charging documents say.

Kramer later said in court that his client denied having anything to do with the murder. Lee made the initial statement after hours of being questioned, Kramer said.

Additionally, a motive was not found because there was no evidence that Lee and the late rapper knew each other, Kramer said.

“He never heard of him and did not know him,” Kramer said. “He never met him or saw him and didn’t have any beef with him. He had nothing to do with him.”

Kramer believes officers did not conduct a thorough investigation on anyone else because their only lead was the vehicle. Due to their perceived holes in the prosecution, Lee’s defense team said it will be filing an appeal.

With his current sentence, Lee will more than likely serve at least 30 years in prison, depending on the parole board, Kramer said.

“I am thankful to the judge in this case who handed down a lengthy sentence given the violent nature of the defendant’s actions,” said Ivan Bates, Baltimore’s state’s attorney, in an emailed statement, adding “…Justin Greer of my Homicide Division did a phenomenal job during the trial to deliver justice on behalf of the victim, his loved ones, and the community. It is prosecutors like Mr. Greer who are securing the appropriate sentences needed to make Baltimore a safer place for all.”

The State’s Attorney’s Office declined to comment any further about the case or any of the claims from Lee’s defense team.

Boykin died during his 10th year as an artist, and he was in the process of releasing new music. The Baltimore Sun named President Davo’s self-released “Born in the Trenches” as one of the 30 Baltimore songs that defined 2017.

Got a news tip? Contact Tony Roberts at troberts@baltsun.com, 443-623-1817 or @TonyRobAegis on X.