A 15-year-old sophomore, Malek Jones, was shot in the head on the evening of February 11, 2026, at an apartment complex on Robertson Street in Kingsport, Tennessee. Police described the incident as isolated; a juvenile suspect allegedly approached Malek near a basketball court, used profanity, then shot him with a handgun. Malek was critically injured and died on Friday, February 14, 2026.

Family and friends remembered Malek as a protective big brother figure with an infectious smile who played football and basketball. The community held a candlelight vigil and balloon release at Borden Park; a GoFundMe was set up to help the family transport his body back to Florida for burial.

Investigators identified a juvenile suspect, Cashlynn Lytle, who was initially charged with attempted first-degree murder and then with first-degree murder after Malek’s death; Lytle was described as a light-skinned Black male and was arrested without incident on Thursday, February 20, 2026. Twenty-five-year-old Haley Locke was charged with being an accessory after the fact, accused of driving the getaway car and sought by police as of mid-February.

If anyone witnessed the shooting or has information about the events that evening, can you come forward to help Malek’s family and the investigation?