HomeBCSOMerritt Island Teen Arrested for Attempted Murder After Drive-By Shooting

Merritt Island Teen Arrested for Attempted Murder After Drive-By Shooting

Published on

By The Space Coast Rocket
- Advertisement - All Aluminum Summer Sale

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. — A 17-year-old Merritt Island teen has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies in connection with a shooting that left a woman seriously injured in the early morning hours of October 8, 2025.

- Advertisement -

According to an affidavit filed by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Malachi Jajuan Walton has been charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm, Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, and Shooting Into or Throwing a Deadly Missile Into an Occupied Conveyance.

The incident took place shortly after midnight along N. Tropical Trail near Sawyer Lane in Merritt Island. Deputies responded after receiving a 911 call from witness Hanna Tamlin, who reported that someone had opened fire on the vehicle she was in with her friend. Deputies arrived to find the victims Nissan Sentra crashed into a telephone pole with the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound that entered through her lower back and exited through her abdomen. She was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where she underwent emergency surgery and remains hospitalized in the trauma intensive care unit.

- Advertisement -

The Incident

According to witness interviews and surveillance reviewed by investigators, the shooting followed an argument that occurred after Walton and another male were kicked out of the victim vehicle earlier in the night. Instead of leaving, Walton allegedly waited near an abandoned building on Sawyer Lane for the vehicle to return. As the victim drove past, Walton was reportedly standing within arm’s length of the passenger side of the vehicle. He then raised a firearm and opened fire into the car, striking her.

After the shooting, Walton fled the scene on foot while Thomas, who had also been in the vehicle earlier, attempted to check on the victim before also fleeing the area. Deputies recovered multiple 9mm shell casings at the scene, along with black “Playboy” slide sandals believed to belong to Walton.

- Advertisement -

Witness Statements and Evidence

During a follow-up interview, Thomas told investigators he had been hanging out with Walton and two girls prior to the shooting. He stated that Walton discharged the firearm into the vehicle after being kicked out, though he claimed not to know why Walton was upset.

Tamlin also provided a Snapchat video depicting the individual she knew as “Malachi,” which investigators matched to Walton through booking images from a prior arrest. Surveillance footage captured Walton walking near the scene shortly before the shooting, wearing the same distinctive sandals recovered at the location.

Investigators concluded there was probable cause to charge Walton with attempted second degree murder and related offenses.

Arrest

An arrest warrant was issued for Walton on October 8, 2025, and he was taken into custody yesterday. He is currently being held at the Brevard County Jail.

- Advertisement -

Upcoming Events

More like this

Crime

Palm Bay Man Arrested in Multi-State Fraud Scheme Tied to Fake Nonprofit “Tocco D’Amore Kitchen”

PALM BAY, Fla. — Palm Bay Police have arrested 30-year-old Jonathan Douglas Eads, owner...
Crime

Melbourne Man Arrested for Starting California’s Deadly Palisades Fire That Killed 12

MELBOURNE, Fla. – A former Pacific Palisades resident now living in Florida has been...
AI

13-Year-Old Arrested After Asking ChatGPT a Chilling Question at School

Volusia County, FL — A 13-year-old student in Florida was arrested after typing a...
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv