In the winter of 2017, a young life was abruptly cut short in Oklahoma City. Malek Martez Higginbotham, a 21-year-old Black man, was at his home on Southeast 48th Street on the evening of December 29th. In a seemingly routine act, he went outside to move his truck. This simple decision would tragically place him in the path of danger. Unbeknownst to him, at least one individual was already inside his vehicle, attempting to burglarize it.
It is believed that when Malek went outside, he
interrupted the robbery in progress. Startled by his sudden appearance, the would-be robber or robbers reacted with violence. As Malek turned to flee back into the safety of his home, he was shot. The sound of gunfire shattered the evening's quiet, and Malek was left critically wounded. First responders from the Oklahoma City police department arrived to find him suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to OU Medical Center in a desperate attempt to save his life.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Malek Higginbotham succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. His death marked the 92nd homicide in Oklahoma City for 2017, a grim statistic that now included a young man whose life was stolen during a senseless act of violence. In the aftermath of the shooting, a homicide investigation was launched, but the individuals responsible had vanished.
To this day, the case remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made. The suspects in Malek's murder have not been publicly identified, leaving a painful void for his family and friends. His mother has been a vocal advocate for justice for her son, offering a reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his death. The tragic story of Malek Higginbotham is a stark reminder of a life taken too soon and a family's ongoing quest for answers and closure.
