On the afternoon of July 3, 2023, a violent encounter unfolded in a west Phoenix neighborhood. Around 1 p.m., police responded to reports of a shooting near 59th Avenue and Thomas Road. Arriving officers found shell casings scattered in the area, but no victims were at the scene. A short time later, a call came from a local hospital reporting that a man with a gunshot wound had been brought in for treatment. The victim was identified as Malik Hillman, a 20-year-old Black / African American man.
Despite receiving medical care, he died from his injuries at approximately 2:30 p.m. that same day.
Detectives investigating the homicide learned that the incident was a shootout between individuals in two separate vehicles, a gold Lexus and a black Kia, both of which fled after the gunfire. According to court documents, the man who drove Malik to the hospital was the driver of the Lexus. He initially told police they were on their way to get food when Malik directed him to meet another car. He later admitted that Malik was planning to sell marijuana to the people in the other vehicle.
Investigators pieced together the events using surveillance footage and information from an iPhone recovered from the Lexus. The evidence showed the gold Lexus pulling up next to the black Kia. Malik got out of the Lexus and into the backseat of the Kia. A struggle then ensued inside the Kia, and video showed Malik falling out of the car. As the Kia began to drive away, the driver of the Lexus got out and fired his own handgun at the fleeing vehicle.
After a three-week investigation, police identified and located the black Kia Optima, which had a missing back window and apparent bullet holes. On July 26, 2023, detectives arrested two suspects in connection with Malik’s death: Bieves Basilio and Demarion Guy, both 20 years old. Basilio reportedly admitted to setting up the meeting to buy marijuana from Malik, while Guy claimed Malik had tried to rob him. Both suspects alleged that Malik was the aggressor during the transaction.
Basilio and Guy were booked into the Maricopa County jail and are facing charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. As of July 2023, their case was entering the legal system.
