In the summer of 2017, the Nashville music scene lost a budding talent. On August 4th, 19-year-old Malik Khayyam, a male known for his skills as the popular DJ Malik, died in a home on Donald Street in the Talbot's Corner area. His life was cut short by a single gunshot wound to the neck.
The incident was initially described as a tragic accident. Khayyam was reportedly playing with a pistol when his 18-year-old friend, Kenneth Brown, attempted to take the weapon from him.
In the process, the gun discharged, fatally wounding Khayyam. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities who responded to the incident noted that Brown and two other individuals present in the home were cooperative with the investigation. Initially, no charges were filed in what appeared to be a devastating mishap among friends.
However, the following month, the situation took a legal turn. A Nashville grand jury indicted Kenneth Brown on a charge of reckless homicide in connection with Khayyam's death. Brown was subsequently arrested and held on a $50,000 bond. The indictment brought a new dimension to the tragic event, moving it from a private sorrow to a matter for the criminal justice system. The community was left to mourn the loss of a vibrant young man whose passion for music had touched many, as evidenced by the outpouring of support following his untimely passing. His funeral was held on August 12, 2017, at the Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church in Goodlettsville, TN.
