Ray Wood was an undercover cop at the time – his family and their attorney now claim that Wood wrote a letter on his deathbed confessing to the NYPD and the FBI to murder the civil rights activist.
Malcolm X was shot in Harlem during a February 1965 speaking engagement. Wood’s family says in the letter Wood wrote he stated it was his responsibility to ensure that Malcolm X’s security detail was arrested days before the murder.
The letter further states that this move would ensure that Malcolm X has no door security in the Audubon Ballroom where he was murdered.
Now, Malcolm X’s three daughters, along with Wood’s family and high-profile civil rights attorney Ben Crump, are asking for the murder investigation to be reopened in light of the new evidence.
“So what we’re trying to do is talk about restorative justice as lawyers – try to pursue ruthless justice,” said attorney Ray Hamlin. “On behalf of Malcolm X’s legacy, Dr. Betty Shabazz, on behalf of his family, his lineage that is here.”
Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of the murder of Malcolm X. Last year, the Manhattan DA began reviewing those convictions after meeting with representatives from the Innocence Project.
Now, with the new evidence, the prosecutor’s office says “the review of this matter is active and underway”.
On Monday, the FBI issued a statement about the investigation.
The FBI field office in New York is aware of recent reports of the circumstances surrounding Malcom X’s death. In recent months, we have been working with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to assist in the assessment of the case and to “Provide relevant FBI documents. The current FBI stands for the noble pursuit of justice and we will continue to support the review in every possible way.”
The NYPD also responded on Saturday.
Several months ago, the Manhattan District Attorney initiated a review of the investigation and prosecution that resulted in two convictions for the murder of Malcom X. The NYPD has provided all available data relevant to that case to the District Attorney. The department remains committed to assisting in that assessment in any way.
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