Malcolm X's former security guard says black leader's killer was 'definitely working' for US government: report

On Tuesday, a member of Malcolm X's security team at the time of his assassination Mustafa Hassan, 84, claimed that he saw the man who shot the civil rights activist in 1965 but has never been interviewed by police and that he heard NYPD officers ask each other if the shooter was "with us." 

During a press conference at the cultural center in Manhattan's Washington Heights district, Hassan said he believed the man "was definitely working for some government establishment." Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced at the conference that they "are putting forth in our legal action that the government was involved in the conspiracy to kill Malcolm X."

Reading from his affidavit, Hassan explained what he saw while working security for Malcolm X when he was shot. "I saw a man running down the aisle towards the exit, where I had been posted, with a gun in his hand," he said. "I managed to knock this person down, and I continued towards the stage, where Malcolm X was lying on his back surrounded by his followers."

"I would later see the same man outside as he was being beaten by Malcolm's followers while a group of policemen who suddenly showed up on the scene asking, 'Is he with us?' While at the same time, holding back Malcolm's followers from beating him."

"From my vantage point, this was an attempt by the police to assist him in getting away," Hassan added. "Rather than allow the man to escape, I reached out and grabbed this man by the collar to prevent him from escaping," he said while mentioning a photo exhibit that showed this instance. 

According to the Daily Mail, Malcolm X's three daughters teamed up with Crump after their February announcement of their intent to sue the NYPD and other government agencies for their alleged involvement in the killing of their father. 

Crump announced at the press conference, "We are putting forth in our legal action that the government was involved in the conspiracy to kill Malcolm X." He continued, "They did not allow anybody to reveal their presence or what they were doing in the Audubon Ballroom."

"Eugene Roberts said they had a dry run. But he didn't know at the time. And he is a confirmed informant," he added, and claimed the conspiracy "goes to the top." 

Malcolm X was a prominent Civil Rights leader who was shot and killed on February 21, 1965, while giving a speech a the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. 

Mujahid Abdul Halim, Also known as Thomas Hagan, confessed to shooting the civil rights leader and was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in 1966 and was released on parole in 2010. Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam were also convicted in connection to the murder but had their judgments overturned in 2021 after spending decades in prison. 

New York officials agreed to pay $26 million for the wrongful convictions after it was determined that there was no physical evidence that linked them to the crime.