Gunman who murdered five-year-old because he was ‘going to snitch’ sentenced to 28 to 60 years in prison

A man who murdered a family, including a five-year-old boy, in a Detroit home has been sentenced to up to 60 years in prison.

Malcom Ray Hardy, 18, pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of second-degree murder for shooting and killing Aaron Benson, LaShon Marshall and her son, Caleb Harris, in February 2022, FOX 2 Detroit reported.

He committed the gruesome murders when he was just 16, but that didn’t stop a judge from sentencing Hardy to 28 to 60 years in prison for each of three counts of second-degree murder, to be served concurrently.

Because he was sentenced to two years in prison for illegal possession of a gun, Hardy will serve a minimum of 30 years in prison.

Based on Hardy’s previous relationship with Marshall’s boyfriend Benson, it is believed he was the main target the night of the shooting, but Hardy ultimately killed little Caleb because he feared the boy would “betray him,” according to previous court testimony. .

Hardy and some of his friends ran errands for Benson, such as delivering pot for him, FOX 2 Detroit reported.

A friend of Hardy’s who saw him the night of the triple murder testified that Hardy came home with Benson’s gun.

This friend also testified that Hardy acted in self-defense. He said that Hardy told him that Benson grabbed his shirt and tried to hit him.

According to this initial version of events, it was Benson’s escalation that caused Hardy to grab Benson’s gun and shoot him.

Hardy then allegedly told this friend that he had accidentally shot Marshall in the butt and then her in the head.

His final victim was Marshall’s son Caleb. 22 shots were fired, with Caleb and Benson both shot nine times. Marshall was shot four times.

At a 2022 hearing, Judge Kenneth King disbelieved Hardy’s story that he acted in self-defense. However, Hardy would later plead guilty.

From left to right: Aaron Benson, Caleb Harris and LaShon Marshall, Caleb’s mother. All three were murdered by Hardy in their Detroit home

Caleb Harris, pictured, was just five years old when he was shot nine times by Hardy. He would have been eight years old now if he had survived

On Thursday, the day of the verdict, the court heard statements from victims. One of the most damning statements came from Marshall’s sister.

“My sister decided to give you a chance at life because she could relate to the lifestyle you were living,” Chenell Marshall said in court. “My sister cared for you. … LaShon had so much life to give to the world and you blocked it for your own selfish reasons.”

She then proceeded to commit the senseless act of cruelty against her cousin.

“Caleb, the name you must never forget, never saw life after the age of five. You took the life of a precious baby who was innocent,” she said.

“You were the one who took him to the store and played with him. My cousin’s life did not deserve to be taken by your hand.’

In her victim impact statement, Caleb’s grandmother said her grandson’s death “has devastated our entire family, especially his siblings.”

“I have 32 grandchildren,” she said. ‘This young man stole something from me… today he would have been eight. The week after he was killed would have been his birthday.”

Family members are pictured in court as they await Hardy’s sentencing

“He was so little and so innocent, why would you do that?” Caleb’s grandmother asked the killer through tears. “God asks us to forgive, but this is something I have not forgiven this young man for.”

Hardy wore a face mask in the courtroom and sat behind plexiglass barriers as he listened silently to the people whose lives he turned upside down with his crime.

After the victim statements were read, Hardy addressed them and apologized.

“I apologize to the court and the family and everyone out there in the world. I didn’t mean it that way and I’m praying for their family and my family,” Hardy said.

Judge Wanda A. Evans, who sentenced Hardy, said she hoped the family would “find some peace” now that the consequences are known.

“It won’t be easy, the pain will be with us for a while. I really hope you can find some peace,” Evans said.

After 30 years, Hardy will be eligible for parole, by which time he will be 48 years old.