- The Washington Times - Friday, May 10, 2013

The grandson of 1960s civil rights leader Malcolm X was killed in Mexico on Thursday, U.S. officials said.

Malcolm Shabazz, 28, died of injuries sustained during a robbery, according to USA Today.

Esperanca Tilghman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, confirmed that a U.S. citizen had died in Mexico City and that the department has been in contact with the family of Mr. Shabazz, but would not comment further, USA Today reported.

Mr. Shabazz was the son of Qubilah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965, and wife Betty Shabazz. In 1997, he intentionally set a fire at his grandmother’s New York home that led to her death.

Mr. Shabazz, who was 12 at the time, served four years in juvenile detention, though in recent years he said he was writing a memoir and speaking against youth violence, according to the Associated Press.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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