On July 3, 2021, a violent altercation unfolded at the West County Center mall in Des Peres, Missouri, resulting in the death of 20-year-old African American male Malachi Maclin. The incident occurred in the early evening hours inside the Champs Sports store, a footwear retailer located on the mall's first floor. Maclin, a 2019 graduate of Hazelwood Central High School and a former varsity baseball player, was inside the store when he became involved in a confrontation with another patron.
Witnesses and later investigations revealed that the verbal dispute quickly escalated into physical violence.
During the encounter, Maclin reportedly struck the other individual, identified as 21-year-old Jason Hill, in the face. Following this physical escalation and alleged verbal threats, Hill drew a firearm and discharged it, striking Maclin. First responders arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting was reported around 6:25 p.m., finding Maclin critically wounded. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. The shooting prompted a significant police response, with officers from the Des Peres Police Department and the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis securing the mall and launching a homicide investigation.
Authorities quickly identified Jason Hill as the shooter. Hill, a resident of St. Louis with no prior criminal record who worked in a warehouse, was taken into custody and initially charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. His bond was set at $500,000. During the investigation, Hill's defense attorney argued that his client had acted in self-defense, asserting that Maclin had approached Hill—a stranger to him—and initiated the violence by punching him and threatening his life. The defense urged prosecutors to review surveillance footage from inside the store, which they claimed corroborated Hill's account of the events.
The legal proceedings took a decisive turn in late August 2021 when the case was presented to a St. Louis County grand jury. After reviewing the evidence, including the security video of the altercation, the grand jury declined to indict Hill, returning a 'no true bill.' Consequently, the charges of murder and armed criminal action were dismissed, and Hill was released. The prosecutor’s office acknowledged the grand jury's decision as a reflection of the objective review of the evidence, bringing the criminal case to a close without a conviction.
