New York, NY – The 19-year-old suspect accused of shooting and killing teenager Mahlik Brown as he attempted to de-escalate a confrontation in SoHo last week has been identified by prosecutors. Baby-faced murder suspect Henry Thomas was wearing distinctive black Air Jordan sneakers with red and yellow accents at the time of the fatal shooting. Surveillance footage captured Thomas sitting in the basket of a Citi Bike shortly before the incident at the luxury Dominick Hotel, where Mahlik was fatally shot.
Mahlik, a 16-year-old high school student, was trying to intervene in a fight between three girls from his charter school, the Broome Street Academy, when Thomas opened fire on the crowd. The shooting resulted in Mahlik being struck twice in the legs and once in the head, according to prosecutors. Thomas then fled the scene with an accomplice, who remains at large.
Detectives were able to track Thomas’ movements after the shooting using surveillance video from nearby buildings, leading them to Avenue D on the Lower East Side. Although Thomas was initially wearing a surgical mask and a black hoodie during the shooting, he was later seen without the mask but still wearing the distinctive sneakers. Police also obtained video footage showing Thomas fleeing the scene on a Citi Bike before ultimately ditching the bike in the West Village and taking a cab back to Avenue D.
After executing a search warrant at Thomas’ residence on Avenue D, detectives recovered the unique sneakers worn during the shooting. Thomas has been charged with murder and weapons possession, despite not having a prior arrest record. During his arraignment hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court, prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating that Thomas had “executed” Mahlik in front of a group of students.
Family and friends of Mahlik described him as a peacemaker who was always willing to intervene in conflicts to help others. Despite facing serious charges, Thomas’ attorney maintains that his client is innocent and intends to fight the accusations. The murder of Mahlik adds to a string of recent teen killings in the city, highlighting ongoing issues of violence affecting young people in New York.