In a quiet Hinesville, Georgia townhome, a grim discovery was made on a Sunday in early March of 2017, the lives of two Fort Stewart soldiers cut tragically short. Twenty-one-year-old Malika Jackson, a female Private, and 23-year-old Specialist Marquez Brown were found deceased inside the residence after police received an anonymous tip. The scene that greeted officers was one of violence; both soldiers were lying in a pool of blood on the floor.
Initial reports from the scene were confusing, with one account mentioning a large knife found in the throat of one of the victims. However, the official autopsy later clarified the cause of death for both Jackson and Brown as gunshot wounds. Investigators determined that a party had taken place at the apartment the night before the bodies were discovered, and both soldiers had been seen alive by friends on Sunday morning. Despite the violent nature of the crime, there were no initial signs of a struggle within the apartment.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led to suspects within the military community. Sergeant Shaquille D. Craig, a 24-year-old petroleum supply specialist also stationed at Fort Stewart, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. According to authorities, the motive appeared to be personal between Craig and Jackson, with Brown tragically being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A second soldier, Specialist Phillip E. Thompson, was also taken into custody and charged with party to the crime of murder. It is alleged that Thompson intentionally aided Craig by providing him with transportation to and from the crime scene. He became a person of interest following Craig's arrest, and his statements, along with witness interviews, led to his charges.
