Fargo Man Sentenced to 55 Years for Murder of Rap Rival Nadin Khoury

Fifty-Five Years for a Stairwell Ambush

Levi Larteh will spend the next 55 years in prison for the 2025 killing of Nadin Khoury, a sentence handed down Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in a Fargo courtroom.

The 27-year-old was convicted of murder and reckless endangerment following a trial that centered on doorbell camera footage and a motive rooted in professional jealousy. The state successfully argued that Larteh ambushed his rival in the stairwell of their shared apartment building.

The sentencing hearing brought a grim closure to a case. Judge Susan Bailey, presiding over the Cass County Courthouse, rejected defense arguments that suggested Larteh might be rehabilitated. Instead, she pointed to the chilling nature of the evidence, noting that Larteh’s actions were calculated and dangerous to anyone else who might have been in the vicinity.

A Motive Rooted in Social Media Rivalry

Prosecutors painted a picture of a man driven by envy. During the trial, Assistant State’s Attorney Ashlei Neufeld argued that Larteh targeted Khoury because of the attention and support Khoury’s rap career was receiving from a YouTube producer and social media influencer.

The state’s case relied heavily on digital evidence, including Ring camera footage that captured Larteh entering the stairwell moments before the fatal shots were fired. Investigators also discovered that Larteh had communicated via FaceTime with a suspect involved in an earlier shooting at Khoury’s home during a gender-reveal party.

The view year old nadin khoury who was horribly bullied by classmates appeared with his mom

The human cost was laid bare by Jereline Johnson, the mother of Khoury’s son. In a victim impact statement, she spoke of the impossibility of explaining to her now 7-month-old son why his father is not there to watch him grow. You took away moments, memories, and an entire future that we will never get back, she told Larteh directly.

Larteh Maintains Innocence Despite Judicial Findings

Despite the verdict, Larteh maintained his innocence during his final opportunity to speak. He alleged that Khoury had threatened his life, claiming, His time was coming sooner or later. I did not kill him, but one of them did. Larteh further dismissed the prosecution’s theory of jealousy, stating that he had never been envious of anyone’s success.

Judge Bailey was unmoved by these assertions. She noted that the court had processed the same evidence that clearly demonstrated a planned attack. While acknowledging that Larteh was not being sentenced for his feelings of jealousy, she emphasized that the court was responding to the act of murder itself.

She told the defendant, You have woken us up in a little respect that there are individuals on our streets carrying around … very nasty, powerful weapons in a cavalier way who are willing to use them with little to no provocation.

The Reality of Prison Sentencing

Under the terms of the sentence, Larteh must serve at least 85% of his 55-year term—a minimum of 46 years—before he is eligible for parole. Defense attorney Jay Greenwood had asked for a sentence that might offer a path to rehabilitation, arguing against life without parole.

For the family of Nadin Khoury, the sentencing provides a legal conclusion. The case shows how quickly online tensions and personal grievances can spiral into lethal violence, leaving a child to grow up with only the knowledge that his father was loved.

Earlier coverage: Fargo Man Sentenced to 55 Years for Murder of Nadin Khoury