Maliki Quashaun Byrd, a 16-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on January 20, 2020, in Wadesboro, North Carolina. Maliki was a student and football player at Anson High School. On the evening of his death, police responded to a call of shots fired and found Maliki and his 15-year-old cousin, Chrishaun Hough, lying on the ground, both having sustained gunshot wounds.
Maliki was pronounced dead at the scene, while Chrishaun was rushed to the hospital with injuries that could potentially paralyze him.
The events leading up to the shooting involved an altercation during a basketball game at Harvest Ministries. Maliki and Chrishaun left the game and were followed by another vehicle. Once they drove off the property, the individuals in the other vehicle fired upon them, resulting in Maliki's death and Chrishaun's severe injuries. The motivations behind the attack remain unclear, and it is not known if the shooters were involved in gang activity. Maliki's football coach, Ralph Jackson, emphasized that Maliki was not involved in any gang.
The suspects in the case are still at large, and the Wadesboro Police Department is conducting interviews and following leads. A $5,000 reward has been announced for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Maliki's murder and the attempted murder of Chrishaun. The community remains in shock and mourning over the loss of a promising young athlete and the potential life-altering injuries sustained by his cousin.
