CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced Malik Blackwell, 23, was sentenced to life in prison with the first eligibility of parole after 68 years in prison for the aggravated murders of Timothy Nash and Anthony Norman in 2023.

“This man is a violent individual who deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars and with this sentence, he will not be eligible for release until he is 91 years old. He killed two people, 61-year-old Timothy Nash, and 40-year-old Anthony Norman — his own cousin — within three months. Our community is much safer with him off the streets.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On January 23, 2023, Malik Blackwell shot Timothy Nash, 61, multiple times, including in the face and chest, at a residence near East 61st Street and Central Avenue in Cleveland. He then fled the scene. The Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) and EMS responded and pronounced the victim deceased on the scene.

On April 7, Malik Blackwell and Christopher Thompson, 28, ambushed Anthony Norman, 40, outside a residence near Anson Avenue and East 49th Street in Cleveland. They shot the victim multiple times, left him lying next to a vehicle, and then fled the scene. CDP and EMS responded and pronounced the victim deceased on the scene.

The cases were investigated by CDP’s Homicide Unit. Surveillance evidence, firearm evidence, and cell phone records linked Malik Blackwell to both murders.

On June 14, 2024, Malik Blackwell was found guilty by a jury of the following charges:

  • Two counts of Aggravated Murder
  • Four counts of Murder
  • Four counts of Felonious Assault

On June 14, 2024, Malik Blackwell was found guilty by a judge of the following charges:

  • Two counts of Having Weapons While Under Disability

He was sentenced to life in prison with the first eligibility of parole after 68 years in prison.

On June 4, 2024, Christopher Thompson pleaded guilty to the following charge:

  • One count of Involuntary Manslaughter

Today, he was sentenced to six years in prison.