The Murder of Malachi Barnes
Warning, this case does discuss gun violence and crimes against a child.
For this case, I watched an episode of Real Time Crime. It’s season 1 episode 4, titled ‘Tailgate Terror/Rap Sheet.’ Malachi’s case is discussed during the first part of this episode.
Background
Malachi Barnes was only 3 when he lost his life. He was born to parents, Anthony Barnes and Christian Hair, and lived in Toledo, Ohio.
From the videos in this episode, Malachi seemed like he was always happy and smiling.
Malachi Barnes
The Crime
On November 22, 2018, Malachi and his family were attending a Thanksgiving dinner party at the America’s Best Value Inn and Suites.
Just before 9pm, Anthony, Malachi, Malachi’s sister, and Anthony’s nephew, Ivory Carter went outside to warm the car up and smoke. Ivory went back inside to the party, and Anthony drove off with his kids.
Anthony drove onto 1-75, and about a minute later, another car opened fire at his car. Anthony said he could see something odd out of the left rear window, and realized they were being shot at.
Anthony had been able to get off at the nearest exit, and rushed Malachi to the hospital. The doctors tried to save Malachi, but he passed away.
The White Chevy
The Toledo PD were called around 9:45pm. They spoke to Anthony to learn what had happened. He explained that he had been with his extended family, and decided to leave before 9pm.
Anthony was able to described the car that had shot at them as a white Chevy HHR. The Toledo PD asked ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) for help to obtain the surveillance footage from the highway.
At 8:56pm, Anthony’s car can be seen pulling onto 1-75. The white Chevy HHR was following Anthony’s car onto the highway. The police believed that it was not a random act. The shooting happened just one minute later at 8:57pm.
The Timeline
The police believed that something had happened at the hotel just before the shooting. They were able to obtain the surveillance footage from the front desk and outside the hotel.
At 8:37pm, the white Chevy HHR pulled into the parking lot. At 8:40pm, two individuals walked into the hotel and to the front desk. They were both young black males, but one was taller and skinnier, and wearing a tan sweatshirt. The other male was seen wearing a red, white and blue jacket. Just a few minutes later, the two males walked back outside and to the white Chevy.
At 8:44pm, Anthony, Malachi, Malachi’s sister, and Ivory Carter walked out of the hotel. The white Chevy backed out of the parking spot, drove around the hotel, and followed Anthony’s car.
The Suspects
At 11:33pm, one of the Toledo detectives just so happened to see a white Chevy at a local gas station. He was able to write down the license plate number and put out a BOLO (be on the lookout) for the car.
The police also obtained the surveillance footage from inside the gas station. The tall skinnier male was seen inside the store. The still image from the hotel matched the image from the gas station.
Once the BOLO was released, the registered owner came forward. She was able to identify the shorter male wearing the red, white and blue as her son, Matthew Smith.
Matthew’s mom told the police that she and her kids had been staying at another hotel nearby. Matthew invited his friends over, and she gave them her car to use for the night.
Matthew’s mom told the police that she didn’t know who the male was from the gas station footage, but knew that he was from Detroit. She also revealed that a 3rd friend named K’Veon Giles had been with them the whole night.
A warrant was issued for their arrests.
The Motive
The police reached out the Detroit police, and were able to identify their suspect as Andre White. Andre had been arrested before on an unrelated homicide charge.
The police arrested Andre, and he agreed to talk to them. He admitted that they had gone to America’s Value Inn and Suites. He said they recognized Ivory Carter, and said that his friends had some kind of beef with him.
The 3 of them hadn’t realized that Ivory had gone back inside the hotel as they were circling the hotel. They followed Anthony’s car with two innocent children and an innocent man inside.
Andre said that Matthew told him and K’Veon that he was going to kill Ivory. They followed Anthony, shot at his car, and killed an innocent little boy.
The Convictions
Andre accepted a plea deal in exchange for testifying against Matthew and K’Veon. Andre was sentenced to 23 years for involuntary manslaughter.
At trial, Andre explained that Matthew had seen “an op,” or a person that you are feuding with. Matthew started shooting first, but K’Veon also had a gun, and started firing too.
Matthew Smith and K’Veon Giles were both sentenced to 45 years to life in prison.
Andre White
Matthew Smith and K’Veon Giles
FINAL THOUGHTS
Again, these lowlifes killed an innocent 3-year-old boy over some dumb grudge they had against Ivory. I really hate covering any crimes, but especially crimes against children. It’s just so sickening, and this gun violence needs to fucking end. My heart really goes out to Malachi’s loved ones. They lost what seemed like such a sweet little boy to something so senseless and stupid.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/malachi-barnes-murder-where-are-kveon-giles-and-matthew-smith-now/
https://nbc24.com/news/local/2-men-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-2018-murder-of-3-year-old-on-i-75
