In the spring of 2015, the life of 18-year-old Malik Blackstock was cut short by a single gunshot to the chest. The Black male was killed on April 7, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Friends of Blackstock stated that he was looking forward to the birth of his daughter in July and was actively working to turn his life around before this tragic event.
The man charged in connection with Blackstock's death was 19-year-old Julian Pasley.
Pasley had been released from jail only 47 days prior to the shooting. Following the incident, Pasley was arrested and faced charges related to the killing. Accounts of the shooting varied. Witnesses reported that Pasley claimed the shooting was an accident, stating he had been playing with a revolver before it discharged. Pasley himself declined to give a statement to the police.
Despite the claims of an accidental shooting, law enforcement officials presented a different possible motive in court. They argued that the shooting was intentional and gang-related, alleging that Blackstock was attempting to leave Pasley's gang to join a rival one. Pasley was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, and the case was presented to a grand jury.
