Man pleads guilty to hate crime in 2019 shooting of teenage boy in KC’s Swope Park

A Kansas City man pleaded guilty in federal court to a hate crime committed against a teenager in 2019 because of the victim’s sexuality, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

Malachi Robinson, 26, attempted to murder a teenage boy by shooting him approximately eight times in 2019 in Swope Park because of the victim’s sexual orientation. The victim survived the attack with life-threatening injuries, said U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Don Ledford.

Robinson pleaded guilty to a hate crime before U.S. Western District Court of Missouri Judge Brian C. Wimes on Thursday. He will remain in federal detention until his sentencing hearing, which has not yet been scheduled, Ledford said.

“This defendant is being held accountable for violently attempting to end the life of someone because of his sexual orientation,” said Kristen Clarke, an assistant attorney general with the Justice Department’s civil rights division. “This attempted murder is a reminder that hate crimes against the LGBTQI+ community are real and must be confronted.”

Robinson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 10, 2021. He was charged with one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law passed in 2009 to criminalize acts of violence motivated by the victim’s identity.

Robinson shot the victim, who is referred to as M.S. in court documents, with a 9mm pistol on May 29, 2019, in Swope Park after the two met by chance at the Kansas City Public Library, according to the plea agreement. Robinson walked with the victim to Swope Park under the guise of looking for a place to engage in sexual acts.

Robinson texted his girlfriend that he “might shoot this boy” because of his sexual orientation, according to the plea agreement.

When they reached a wooded area, Robinson shot M.S. repeatedly, Ledford said.

Robinson fled through the woods toward his apartment and attempted to avoid detection.

In the days following the shooting, Robinson told others that he shot the victim because of his sexuality.

“As today’s plea indicates, any act of violence motivated by bias, hate or discrimination toward anyone is not only reprehensible but will not be tolerated by any law enforcement agency and is unwelcome in our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub of the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office.

Robinson is subject to a maximum sentence of life in federal prison without parole.

Robinson’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.