Suspects To Beating Of Malcolm X’s Grandson Arrested
Two men were arrested in Mexico City in connection to the death of Malcolm X’s grandson, Malcolm Shabazz.
The men, Manuel Alejandro Pérez de Jesús and David Hernández Cruz, were waiters at a downtown bar where Mr. Shabazz was reportedly beaten due to a dispute over a disproportionate tab. In addition to the two men, who worked at The Palace Club, authorities were looking for two other employees of the bar.
Mr. Shabazz suffered fatal jaw, skull, and rib fractures due to the beating.
US consular officials are working on having the body of Mr. Shabazz returned to the US. No statements were issued by the family in connection to the beating.
Rodolfo Fernando Rios Garza, the city prosecutor, revealed that Malcolm X’s grandson came to Mexico City through Tijuana. Together with Miguel Suarez, a deported labor activist from Mexico, they went into the bar. At around 3AM, an argument broke out over the bill as the two were about to leave.
Bar employees separated the two before Malcolm X’s grandson was beaten with a blunt object.
On the other hand, Mr. Suarez was robbed. But he managed to escape and was able to call for help. Apparently the two were approached by two women, who invited them to the bar. News reports in Mexico revealed that simple conversations with female employees of the bars in the area are included in the bill of the customers.
The statement of the office of the prosecutor indicated that blood alcohol concentration of Malcolm X’s grandson was over three times the limit in the US. However, the prosecutor revealed that the excessive tab was part of the attempt in robbing the two.
The prosecutor also said that all of the evidence found point to robbery as the motive for the crime. However, a number of obstacles hindered the investigation including the missing recording equipment for the security cameras of the bar. The cameras were also facing the walls.
Mr. Suarez was already interviewed by the police, but was not able to give any statements to the media. Malcolm X’s grandson was in Mexico City to attract attention from the media to the recent deportation of Mr. Suarez, according to a Facebook post of the labor activist.