Assassination

Assassination

After Malcolm's return from the Middle East and Europe he received an influx of threatening behavior from the Nation Of Islam. Malcolm acknowledged these threats with unwavering resolve. He commented "I'm a marked man. It doesn't frighten me for myself as long as I felt they would not hurt my family. ...No one can get out without trouble, and this thing with me will be resolved by death and violence."  

February 1964;

    Malcolm's personal car is bombed under the orders sent from the leader of the Nation Of Islam's Temple Number 7.

March 1964;

    Louis (X) Farrakhan, a Boston minister and future leader of the Nation Of Islam, is told by the active leader, Elijah Muhammad, that "hypocrites like Malcolm should have their heads cut off."

April 1964;

    The Nation Of Islam's propaganda magazine, Muhammad speaks, includes a cartoon of Malcolm's severed head bouncing, then rolling towards a pile of skulls. This same edition features an article where Malcolm's brother, Philbert (X) Little denounces him.

June 1964;

     The Nation Of Islam sued Malcolm to reclaim the house his family was living in, at East Elmhurst, Queens, New York. Malcolm and his family are ordered to vacate the residence.

     On the 8th of June, Malcolm's wife Betty Shabazz, receives a phone call that FBI surveillance intercepted and recorded. Betty was told that Malcolm was "as good as dead."

    On the 12th of June, Four days after the phone call, the FBI received a tip that "Malcolm X is going to be bumped off" from one of their informants.

July 1964;

    Suspected FBI undercover agent John Ali, who is Elijah Muhammad's aide, referred to Malcolm by stating "Anyone who opposes the Honorable Elijah Muhammad puts their like in jeopardy" on the 9th of the month.

December 1964;

    Louis (X) Farrakhan publishes another comment, in the Muhammad speaks propaganda machine, directed at Malcolm's demise. He writes "such a man as Malcolm is worthy of death."

These comments and threats continued through-out the conclusion of 1964 and into the early months of 1965. 

On February 15th, Malcolm X was scheduled to attend a hearing in the court system which intended to postpone the eviction of his family from the residence on East Elmhurst. However, the night before, on the 14th of February, the home was destroyed by fire. Four days later, on the 19th of February, Malcolm expressed concern that the Nation Of Islam was actively trying to kill him, to interviewer Gordon Parks.

Two days after his interview with Gordan Parks, Malcolm readied himself to speak in front of a crowd of 400 at Manhatton's Auduban Ballroom. His planned speech was to address the Organization of Afro-America Unity, in which he was allegedly going to blame the Nation Of Islam of setting his home on fire. but as he initiated his speech, someone from the crowd exclaimed "Get your hand outta my pocket!" 

Malcolm, along with his bodyguards, attempted to defuse the situation, but before order could be regained, a man with a sawed-off shot gun stormed forward and shot Malcolm in the chest. Two other men rushed the platform from where Malcolm was situated and fired semi-automatic handguns at Malcolm. 

Malcolm was sent to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:30pm. An autopsy report, performed at Bellevue morgue by Chief Medical Examiner Dr Halpera,

reviled he suffered multipul gunshot wounds, including buckshots from the initial shotgun, to his left shoulder, chest, legs, and arms. 

One man was arrested on the scene. Talmadge Hayer (aka, Thomas Hagan), after being beaten by patrons of the audience. 

The two other gunmen were identified as Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson by others although Hayer never acknowledged them as his accomplices, not even during his trial. Despite this, all three were sentenced to life in prison for murder over a year later, in March 1966.

Butler and Johnson maintained their exclusion of participation and their innocence. Butler was eventually paroled in 1985 and Johnson in 1987. Both changed there Christian names to Muslim names. Muhammad Abdul Aziz (Butler), and Khalil Islam (Johnson). 

Butler (Aziz) maintained a faction with the Nation Of Islam and became leader of the Nation's Harlem mosque in 1998.

Johnson (Islam) converted to Sunni Muslim while serving his time in prison and denounced the Nation Of Islam's teachings. He passed away in 2009.

Talmadge Hayer changed his name to Mujahid Halim and was paroled in 2010.

Malcolm's viewing services drew thousands (estimated between 14,000-30,000) of mourners to the Unity Funeral Home in Harlem. 

Ossie Davis delivered Malcolm's eulogy;

"There are those who will consider it their duty, as friends of the Negro people, to tell us to revile him, to flee, even from the presence of his memory, to save ourselves by writing him out of the history of our turbulent times. Many will ask what Harlem finds to honor in this stormy, controversial and bold young captain—​and we will smile. Many will say turn away—​away from this man, for he is not a man but a demon, a monster, a subverter and an enemy of the black man—​and we will smile. They will say that he is of hate—​a fanatic, a racist—​who can only bring evil to the cause for which you struggle! And we will answer and say to them: Did you ever talk to Brother Malcolm? Did you ever touch him, or have him smile at you? Did you ever really listen to him? Did he ever do a mean thing? Was he ever himself associated with violence or any public disturbance? For if you did you would know him. And if you knew him you would know why we must honor him"

His funeral was held on February 27th at Faith Temple of the Church of God in Christ. His funeral service was broadcast live on local television. His burial services took place at Ferncliff Cemetery where friends used the gravediggers tools to conclude his final moments.

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