On a Sunday evening in Atlantic City, the life of 19-year-old Malae Johnson of Mays Landing was cut short in a violent encounter. The young Black man was inside the Pacific Food Market on Pacific Avenue on September 25, 2022, when the events that led to his death began to unfold. A minivan pulled up to the market, and a man named Malik Galloway, 31, got out and entered the store.
A short time later, Johnson was seen walking past the parked minivan and into the same market.
This seemingly chance encounter took a dark turn. Galloway exited the market and sat in the minivan with the driver, 30-year-old Laquan Rex, for about a minute. What was discussed is unknown, but what happened next was captured on surveillance video. Galloway re-entered the store, this time with a gun drawn, and fired at least three shots in Johnson's direction. In the chaos, another man, Michael D'Arrigo, was also wounded. The shooting was described by a prosecutor as indiscriminate, taking place inside a crowded convenience store.
After the shooting, Galloway ran back to the waiting minivan. With Laquan Rex behind the wheel, the vehicle sped away from the scene before the door was even fully closed. When Atlantic City police responded to reports of the shooting, they found two victims with gunshot wounds. Both were rushed to a nearby hospital, but Malae Johnson was pronounced dead.
An investigation was launched by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department. Using surveillance footage and witness statements, detectives were able to piece together the sequence of events and identify the individuals involved. The investigation led to the arrests of Malik Galloway and Laquan Rex. A third individual, 22-year-old Amari Rex, was also implicated for allegedly hindering the apprehension or prosecution of the suspects. The motive for the shooting was suggested by authorities to be possibly gang-related or an act of retaliation.
A grand jury in Atlantic County handed down indictments against the three men. Malik Galloway was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and several weapons offenses. Laquan Rex, who had been living in Atlanta, was indicted on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder for his role as the getaway driver. Amari Rex was indicted on a single count of third-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution. Following their indictment, Galloway and Laquan Rex were held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility. If convicted, Galloway could face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, while Laquan Rex faces 30 years to life.
