In the early morning hours of August 25, 2022, the life of 26-year-old Malika Shanae’ Harris was tragically cut short in her hometown of Baxley, Georgia. Responding to a 911 call from a concerned relative, officers from the Baxley Police Department arrived at a residence on Pine Street to a grim scene. Inside the home, they discovered Ms. Harris and another woman, 45-year-old Oneida Hawkins, both suffering from gunshot wounds. While Ms. Hawkins was transported to a hospital in Savannah for medical treatment, Ms. Harris was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was promptly called in to lead the death investigation. Their efforts quickly identified a suspect, 38-year-old Reginald Stokes of Baxley. A search for Stokes ensued, and he was located and apprehended in Warwick, Georgia, by deputies from the Worth County Sheriff's Office. Following his arrest, Stokes was transported to the Appling County Jail.
Reginald Stokes faced a litany of serious charges in connection with the fatal shooting. These charges included one count of felony murder, one count of malice murder, and two counts of aggravated assault. Additionally, he was charged with four counts of cruelty to a child in the 3rd degree, indicating the presence of children during the violent incident. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed by the GBI Medical Examiner's Office to officially determine the cause and manner of Ms. Harris's death. Friends and family remembered Malika as a loving mother to her four daughters who enjoyed smiling, singing, and spending time with her family.
