New York DA to Investigate ‘Who Killed Malcolm X?’

By N. Jamiyla Chisholm Feb 11, 2020

February 21 marks the date that Malcolm X was assassinated in New York City’s Audubon Ballroom in 1965. Now, following the release of a new six-part Netflix documentary that asks "Who Killed Malcolm X?," the Manhattan district attorney’s office will reportedly look into answering that question, CNN confirmed February 10.

Based on the research of activist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad, the documentary series, which debuted on February 7, explores the details surrounding the human rights leader’s assassination by introducing new information in the conspiracy. It argues that the men who were convicted of the murder (Mujahid Abdul Halim, Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Khalil Islam) weren’t even at the Audubon that day; they have always maintained their innocence. Instead, the filmmakers point the lens in the direction of four then-Nation of Islam members from Newark, N.J., one of whom appeared in a 2010 mayoral campaign ad for Cory Booker.

"What got us hooked was the notion that the likely shotgun assassin of Malcolm X was living in plain sight in Newark, and that many people knew of his involvement, and he was uninvestigated, unprosecuted, unquestioned," Rachel Dretzin, a director on the documentary, told The New York Times.

In collaboration with the Innocence Project, which is working to exonerate Aziz, 81, DA Cy Vance has appointed Peter Casolaro and Charles King to reinvestigate the case, according to an Innocence Project statement. Casolaro worked on the release of the Exonerated Five. 

"District Attorney Vance has met with representatives from the Innocence Project and associated counsel regarding this matter," Manhattan DA spokesperson Danny Frost said in a statement, according to CNN. "He has determined that the district attorney’s office will begin a preliminary review of the matter, which will inform the office regarding what further investigative steps may be undertaken."

Visit the Innocence Project’s website to learn more about Malcolm X’s assassination.