In a tragic turn of events in 2023, a beloved figure of the community, Joshua Malcolm, met a fatal end. The circumstances surrounding his death left his family in a state of despair, searching for answers that have yet to arrive. Bereft of any significant leads in their enquiry, the local police are yet to provide closure for his mourning family. In a show of solidarity and a plea for justice, family and friends are now rallying to arrange a justice march, seeking help from community members to shed light on the unresolved mystery.
The local law enforcement division, DeKalb County Police, provided disturbing details about the horrific incident. Joshua Malcolm’s life was abruptly cut short when an unknown assailant targeted his vehicle on Bouldercrest Road, close to Interstate 285, on the 10th of April, 2023. Preliminary findings revealed that a mysterious black SUV was linked to the attack, with several bullets from the vehicle found embedded in Malcolm’s car.
The incident, as tragic as it was, also placed another life in peril. A fellow passenger was in the car with Malcolm when the fateful episode unfolded. The aftermath brought unbearable pain for Joshua’s mother, Christy Malcolm, who found herself grappling with the heart-wrenching task of delivering the tragic news to his children. ‘I am constantly faced with questions for which I have no answers,’ she shared with evident distress.
The investigation into Joshua Malcolm’s case, a father of three, is presently at a standstill, with DeKalb County Police unable to uncover significant leads. They continue to urge the community for assistance, vocalizing appreciation for any help they could receive from the public at this stage. The somber reality of this situation is a source of unending frustration for Christy Malcolm and her sister, who were largely left in the dark following Joshua’s death.
Expressing her disappointment, Christy noted, ‘There have been minimal updates from the police since the last year. It feels as though they view him more as a potential offender rather than the victim he was.’ A frustration shared among the family, and they are now turning to the community to push for progress in this cold case.
Joshua’s loved ones have grown increasingly adamant in their desire to see this investigation reach its conclusion. They hope that an enhanced push from the public can propel this case forward. Keith Lewis, a close friend of Joshua’s and a committed activist, voiced concerns over the silence that enveloped the case. ‘Many are fearful…fearful of the potential backlash and the stigma of being labled a tattle-tale,’ he expressed.
However, he remained hopeful while putting into perspective the importance of their silence-breakers, asserting, ‘It’s not tattling if the intention is to provide justice.’ The community, indeed, finds itself teetering between fear and justice, and this conflict hampers progress in the investigation.
Supporters have taken an active initiative to organize what they term a ‘justice march.’ They intend this event to jolt the stagnant investigation back to life, with a path plotted around the site of the ominous incident. The gathering has been set for Friday, 5 p.m., with the families of the victim hoping that it would serve as an effective catalyst in unearthing the truth.
The march’s secondary goal is to show unanimous support for Malcolm’s loved ones, particularly his five-year-old son. Keith Lewis fervently believes that the sight of a caring community rallying together ‘would provide immense consolation for the boy, help him understand that he’s not alone, and that his father was a man worthy of this kind of community support.’
In addition to mourning, the community sees this tragedy as a broader awakening. Keith Lewis echoes this sentiment by calling out the young onlookers, ‘One can only hope that this will serve as a wake-up call for the younger generation, to realize the destructive path that violence carves.’
Christy Malcolm points out the urgency and the humane aspect of their plea for help, ‘This isn’t for my sake alone.’ This stresses the fact that, at the end of the day, what they seek is justice for Joshua Malcolm. And for his three children who, each day, have to wake up to the painful reality of their father not being there with them.