A 25-year-old Missouri man has been sentenced to almost 22 years in prison for committing a hate crime by shooting a teenager eight times because of his sexual orientation.
RELATED: First Openly Gay Latin Trap Star Kevin Fret Shot And Killed In Puerto Rico
Missouri Man Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison For Hate Crime After Shooting 16-Year-Old Boy 8 Times Because Of His Sexual Orientation
The man has since been identified as Malachi Robinson, of Kansas City, Missouri. On Thursday (April 20), Robinson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 262 months in a federal prison without parole.
It is reported that on May 29, 2019, Malachi Robinson and a 16-year-old boy, only identified in court records as M.S., met at the Kansas City Public Library having briefly spoken over Facebook Messenger.
RELATED: JoJo Siwa’s House Swatted After Coming Out As Gay On Instagram Live
According to court documents, library surveillance footage caught Robinson running up to M.S. before he crossed a street to leave the area. From then, Robinson suggested that they head into a wooded area nearby, as if he wanted to look for a place to engage in a sex act.
During this time, Robinson wrote to his girlfriend that he “might shoot this boy” because of his sexual orientation. After the two arrived to a wooded area, M.S. changed his mind and decided to turn around and leave the woods.
RELATED: Gay Polyamorous Throuple Make History In Listing 3 Dads On A Birth Certificate
However, Robinson stopped him by pulling out a pistol. Despite being repeatedly hit by Robinson’s bullets, M.S. was able to escape to a nearby sidewalk, where he would collapse in front of an apartment building. A witness ended up calling 911 and first responders transported the teen to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Fortunately, the teen, who sustained eight gunshot wounds, has survived the shooting after spending about two weeks in the hospital recovering. However, the teen is still dealing with long-term effects of the shooting, and has undergone several surgeries and physical therapy. It is also reported that he has multiple bullets inside of him still.
RELATED: iLoveMakonnen Says People ‘Discredit’ His Talent & Influence Since Coming Out As Gay
As for Robinson, once M.S. escaped to safety, he fled the woods and went to his apartment building, where he continued to evade an arrest.
That is until police discovered him and arrested him. On July 7, 2022, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. And as of April 20, 2023, he has been sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison, without parole.
RELATED: Dallas Airbnb Host Denies Gay Couple From Booking A Stay
Elsewhere, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, “This defendant’s sentence holds him accountable for the violent and callous hate crime perpetrated against a defenseless teenager targeted because of their LGBTQ+ status.”
Additionally, U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore for the Western District of Missouri added, “This significant penalty brings a measure of justice to the young victim and to the larger LGBTQI+ community. To ambush and shoot an unwitting victim, who posed no threat to him, for no other reason than his sexual orientation is reprehensible behavior that won’t be tolerated. Our entire community must stand together against acts of violence motivated by hatred for any group of people. The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the civil rights of all citizens and prosecuting those who illegally threaten those rights.”
Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub of the FBI Kansas City Field Office added, “This sentencing validates that bias-motivated crimes will not be tolerated and demonstrates law enforcement’s continued commitment to aggressively investigate and bring to justice those responsible for these heinous crimes. To target an individual, lure them and shoot them multiple times for no other reason than their perceived sexual orientation is reprehensible. The sentence imposed today reflects the severity of the crime committed against the victim and the entire LGBTQI+ community. Every individual has the right to live without fear of being attacked or harassed, regardless of their sexual orientation. The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state and local partners to protect the civil rights of all.”
#Socialites, be sure to check out the post below, then leave us your thoughts in a comment after!