On the evening of November 14, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee, a 32-year-old Kurdish man named Nashwan Malaka was working in the meat department of the Newroz Market on Elysian Fields Court. It was a Thursday, around 5:30 p.m., when an unknown and masked individual entered the market through an unlocked back door. The assailant, clad in a black hoodie, blue jeans, and brown shoes, quickly approached Malaka from behind and fired a single shot, striking him in the head.
The gunman then fled the scene through the same rear entrance, disappearing as quickly as he had arrived. Malaka died at his workplace.
The sudden and violent nature of Malaka's death sent shockwaves through Nashville's close-knit Kurdish community, where he was known as a kind, funny, and hardworking man who was well-liked by customers. He had come to Nashville from Kurdistan to provide for his family. At the time of his murder, his wife, Kajin Silevani, was pregnant with their third child. The apparent targeted nature of the shooting was particularly baffling to those who knew him, as he had no known enemies.
The Metro Nashville Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide, releasing surveillance footage of the suspect to the public in the hopes of generating leads. Despite these efforts and appeals for information, the case has grown cold. To this day, no arrests have been made, and the motive behind the fatal shooting remains a mystery. The investigation remains open. Malaka's wife later gave birth to a son, whom she named Nashwan in honor of his late father, and she continues to seek justice for her husband's unsolved murder. The Kurdish community has also offered a reward for any information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for this tragic loss.
