On a warm Memorial Day evening in Southwest Philadelphia, what began as a day of remembrance and community gatherings ended in tragedy for 20-year-old Nacear Gredic. A playful and energetic young man, known for his love of roller skating and listening to oldies, Gredic was a devoted full-time father to his children. He was also pursuing a future in dental hygiene, balancing his studies with his responsibilities as a parent.
His life, however, was cut short on May 25, 2015, when he was fatally shot while attempting to de-escalate an argument in a local park. Gredic, a Black male, was struck in the back and succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
The investigation into Nacear Gredic’s death led police to identify Malik Craig as the suspect. Evidence presented during the subsequent legal proceedings indicated that an earlier conflict involving Craig and his associates had escalated when they encountered Gredic and his friends at Connell Park. On June 2, 2015, Malik Craig was arrested and faced a series of charges related to the incident.
Malik Craig was charged with third-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the assault of another individual, Russell Davis, and the shooting death of Nacear Gredic. Following a jury trial where the cases were consolidated, Craig was convicted of third-degree murder and the related offenses. On December 13, 2016, a judgment of sentence was entered. Craig later appealed his conviction, arguing that the trial court erred in its instructions to the jury and in consolidating the cases, and that the conviction was against the weight of the evidence. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the judgment of the trial court, upholding his conviction. Subsequent appeals by Craig under the Post Conviction Relief Act were also denied.
