In the summer of 2017, the Nashville music scene lost a rising star. On August 4th, Malik Khayyum, a 19-year-old male known for his talent as a DJ, died in a tragic incident that unfolded in the Talbot's Corner neighborhood. The young man, who performed under the name DJ Malik, was remembered as a popular and beloved figure who dedicated his life to music.
The circumstances of Khayyum's death were determined to be the result of an accidental shooting.
He was reportedly playing with a pistol inside a Donald Street home when a friend, 18-year-old Kenneth Brown, attempted to take the firearm from him. In the struggle, the gun discharged, striking Khayyum in the neck. He succumbed to the wound at the scene. In the immediate aftermath, police noted that Brown and two other individuals present in the home were cooperative with the investigation.
Following the incident, the case was presented to a grand jury. In September 2017, Kenneth Brown was indicted on a charge of reckless homicide. Court records indicate that the case against Brown is now closed, with a conviction for reckless homicide. He was being held on a $50,000 bond following the indictment. The untimely death of Malik Khayyum prompted an outpouring of grief from the community, with many gathering for a candlelight vigil to honor the memory of the young DJ whose life was cut short.
