In Loving Memory of Malcolm Harris

In Loving Memory of Malcolm Harris

JACKSON, Miss. — With broken hearts and profound sorrow, family, friends, and the Jackson community gather in grief to remember and honor the life of Malcolm Harris, whose life was tragically taken far too soon. His passing has left an emptiness that cannot be measured and a silence that echoes deeply within the hearts of those who loved him.

On the evening of February 18, 2026, Malcolm was found deceased at a vacant property in the 3600 block of Skyline Drive. According to the Jackson Police Department, officers responded around 9:00 p.m., where they discovered Malcolm’s body. Authorities believe he died from a gunshot wound.

In the days that followed, an arrest was made. On February 26, 2026, Naquan Balentine was charged with murder and auto theft in connection with Malcolm’s death. He was denied bond and is currently being held at the Hinds County Detention Center. Reports from WJTV 12 News, citing its sister station WREG-TV, indicated that Balentine had previously been arrested earlier in the week for an armed robbery at a Dollar General store in Panola County.

But beyond the investigation, beyond the charges and court proceedings, is the life of Malcolm Harris — a life that mattered.

Malcolm was more than a headline. He was a son deeply loved by his mother, a nephew cherished by his aunt Tyronza Davis-Jackson, and a family member whose presence brought meaning and connection. He was someone with dreams, with plans, with a future that should have stretched far beyond February 18.

His family has shared their heartbreak openly. Malcolm’s mother reported him missing around 5:30 p.m. that evening, concerned for his safety. His aunt spoke of the anguish they felt as they tried to locate him, following phone pings and clinging to hope. The hours between uncertainty and confirmation are ones no family should ever have to endure.

Tyronza Davis-Jackson expressed the pain of believing that perhaps more could have been done — that maybe, just maybe, her nephew might still be here. That grief is layered and complex, filled with sorrow, questions, and the unbearable weight of “what if.”

Malcolm’s life cannot be defined by the violence that ended it. He was a human being with a story, with relationships, with moments of laughter and love that now feel sacred. Those who knew him remember his personality, his voice, his unique presence. They remember the everyday interactions — the conversations, the shared meals, the small gestures — that now carry immeasurable value.

The Jackson community mourns not just a loss, but a life interrupted. Another family sits at a table with an empty chair. Another mother carries a grief no parent should know. Another aunt speaks her nephew’s name in remembrance rather than in greeting.

As the legal process unfolds and justice moves forward, the focus remains on honoring Malcolm’s memory. His name deserves to be spoken with dignity. His life deserves to be remembered for more than the tragedy that took him.

In loving memory of Malcolm Harris — may his spirit be carried in the hearts of those who loved him. May his family find strength in one another and comfort in community support. May his story remind us all of the preciousness of life and the urgency of compassion.

Gone too soon. Loved beyond words. Never forgotten.