In the early morning hours of April 16, 2021, the life of 17-year-old Malakai Tyrelle Cooke was tragically cut short in a fatal shooting. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. in the parking lot of the Country Inn & Suites located in the 5500 block of Spectrum Drive in Frederick, Maryland. Deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of shots fired and, upon arrival, discovered Cooke deceased at the scene.
He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Prior to his death, Cooke, a student at Brunswick High School, had expressed grave concerns for his safety to his family. He had been living with friends in an effort to protect his immediate family from a perceived threat. His mother later recounted that her son had been stalked for months and had told her that he feared for his life.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to Tyree Ronell Deangelo Haynes. Detectives utilized multiple video surveillance recordings from the area to piece together the timeline of events that culminated in the deadly encounter. Haynes was subsequently arrested and charged with the murder of Malakai Cooke.
On April 24, 2024, Tyree Ronell Deangelo Haynes, then 24 years old, entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with all but 40 years suspended. Following his eventual release, Haynes will be subject to five years of supervised probation. The victim's parents provided impact statements in court, with his mother poignantly stating, 'My son told me he feared for his life and I will never see Kai graduate high school.'
