Ray Wood was an undercover police officer at the time – his family and their lawyer now claim that Wood wrote a deathbed letter confessing to the NYPD and that the FBI conspired to kill the civil rights activist.
Malcolm X was shot in February 1965 in Harlem during a speaking engagement. Wood’s family says that in the letter Wood wrote, he said his responsibility was to ensure Malcolm X’s security details were arrested a few days before the murder.
The letter further states that this move would guarantee that Malcolm X will not have the security of the door to the Audubon ballroom where he was killed.
Now, Malcolm X’s three daughters, along with Wood’s family and civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, are calling for the re-investigation of the crimes in the light of new evidence.
“So what we’re trying to do is talk about restorative justice as lawyers – try to pursue relentless justice,” said prosecutor Ray Hamlin. “On behalf of Malcolm X’s legacy, Dr. Betty Shabazz, on behalf of his family, his descendants who are here.”
Three members of the Nation of Islam have been convicted of the assassination of Malcolm X. Last year, the Manhattan DA began a review of those convictions after meeting with representatives of the Innocence Project.
Now, with the new evidence, the DA office says that “the review of this issue is active and ongoing.”
On Monday, the FBI released a statement on the investigation.
“The FBI in New York is aware of recent reports of circumstances surrounding Malcom X’s death. For the past few months, we have been working with the Manhattan District Attorney to help review the issue and provide relevant FBI documents. Today is the noble search for justice and we will continue to support the review in any way we can. “
The NYPD also responded on Saturday.
A few months ago, the Manhattan District Attorney initiated a review of the investigation and prosecution that led to two convictions for the murder of Malcolm X. The NYPD provided the prosecutor with all available records relevant to the case. The Department remains committed to assisting in any way with this analysis.
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