McGhee was born on April 27, 1973, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Atwater Village, a working-class neighborhood just north of downtown Los Angeles near Glendale. His father left the family when McGhee was a young boy to work in Alaska. Residents remember McGhee as a typical kid who frequently skated around the neighborhood. As an adult, he had three biological children and also helped raise five of his girlfriend's children.

McGhee's first documented violent act occurred in 1989 when he was 16 years old. He assaulted a guard with a shotgun while in a juvenile detention facility. By 1994, at 21, McGhee was convicted for assaulting a law enforcement officer in San Bernardino County, leading to a four-year prison sentence. He served three years and was released in 1997.

In 1997, McGhee allegedly chased two members of The Rascals gang, resulting in Juan Cardiel being shot and paralyzed, while Pedro Sanchez was injured but later recovered. Both victims identified McGhee as the shooter.

On October 14, 1997, McGhee, while on parole, allegedly committed his first murder, killing Ronnie Martin, a member of the rival Frog Town gang, by shooting him 28 times. McGhee was not linked to this crime until years later. After violating his parole for an unrelated charge, he was sent back to prison in late 1997.

After serving roughly a year and a half for parole violations, McGhee was released in March 1999, living with his grandmother. However, by February 2000, he was again found violating parole and returned to prison. He was released again in April 2000. Each time McGhee was released, crime rates in Atwater Village spiked.

On October 17, 1999, while on parole, a shooting occurred near Echo Sounds music studio involving bodyguard Dwayne "Draws" Dupree, who was killed, and rap artists who were injured. McGhee was later linked to this incident.

On June 3, 2000, rival gang member Ryan Gonzalez was killed by McGhee, allegedly because they shared the same nickname, "Huero." Despite an arrest warrant issued in June 2000, McGhee evaded capture for several years.

On July 4, 2000, McGhee allegedly coordinated an ambush on LAPD officers Thomas Baker and Carlos Langarica. Although the officers survived, three robbery suspects were arrested and charged with attempted murder, but the shooters, including McGhee, were not identified.

On September 14, 2000, McGhee was suspected of killing Marty Gregory Roybal and witness David Lamont Martin. Following another parole violation, McGhee was released in May 2001. He then went on a violent spree, allegedly killing multiple individuals between June and November 2001, including Manuel Apodaca, Carlos Velasco, Cheri Wisotsky, Mary Ann Wisotsky, Bryham Robinson, and Marjorie Mendoza.

On November 8, 2001, Mendoza was killed while with Duane Natividad and Erica Rhee. McGhee and Eduardo "Limpy" Rodriguez were suspects. A warrant for McGhee's arrest was issued on November 27, 2001.

Christina Duran, who assisted McGhee after Mendoza's murder, was killed on her 29th birthday, allegedly by McGhee. Despite writing incriminating hip hop lyrics, McGhee continued his criminal activities until he was placed on the US Marshals' 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list in September 2002.

McGhee was arrested on February 12, 2003, in Bullhead City, Arizona, after a tip led authorities to his location. Following his capture, McGhee faced numerous charges, including multiple murders and attempted murders.

On September 27, 2007, McGhee went on trial for several murders and attempted murders. He was found guilty by a jury on October 25, 2007, who agreed that he should be sentenced to death. On August 27, 2008. Judge Robert J. Perry definitively sentenced McGhee to death on January 9, 2009, along with multiple consecutive life sentences for his other crimes.

In an entirely separate trial in 2007, McGhee was also sentenced to 75 years to life for leading a prison riot in 2005 in the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail. 

Because he was sentenced to death in California where there is currently a moratorium on executions, McGhee is currently housed in the general population in Salinas Valley State Prison, but if the moratorium is ever lifted, he could still be executed.