On the evening of February 22, 2020, a dispute over a small amount of counterfeit money set in motion a tragic chain of events that would claim the life of 19-year-old Malik Madison in Clarksville, Tennessee. That night, half-brothers Jakarius Medley, 18, and KyJuan Fuller, 16, were involved in a transaction to sell edibles and a vape cartridge. After the sale, Medley discovered he had been paid with counterfeit cash by a 17-year-old. Angered by the deception, the brothers sought out the individual they believed was responsible.
Later that same evening, acting on a false tip that the 17-year-old was at a residence on Cranklen Circle, the half-brothers drove to the location. Believing their target was inside, Fuller fired approximately 11 shots from a. 22 pistol into the house. One of the bullets struck Malik Madison in the head. The intended target of the shooting was not present at the residence. Madison was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he fought for his life for six days before succumbing to his injuries on February 28, 2020.
The investigation into the drive-by shooting led Clarksville police to identify Jakarius Medley and KyJuan Fuller as the primary suspects. Both were arrested and initially charged with criminal attempted homicide, with those charges later upgraded to first-degree murder following Madison's death. The case proceeded to trial in May 2024. After several days of testimony and deliberation, a jury found both Medley and Fuller guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, along with other related charges.
In August 2024, the two brothers faced sentencing for their roles in the death of Malik Madison. During a hearing filled with emotional testimony, including a victim impact statement from Madison's mother, the court handed down their sentences. The conclusion of the legal proceedings brought a measure of closure to a case that had begun with a minor dispute and ended in the senseless loss of a young man's life.
