Three-year-old Malachi Barnes, who was shot to death in the back seat of his father’s car Thanksgiving night, would have turned 4 on Dec. 21.
His mother, Christian Hair, had already bought supplies for his birthday party. He wanted Hot Wheels.
“I’ve still got the invitations on top of my refrigerator,” she said.
Matthew Smith, 17, is charged with complicity to murder. He pleaded not guilty Friday in the Lucas County Juvenile Justice Center. The teen said nothing during his brief court appearance while his parents sat next to him.
Lori Olender, deputy chief of the Lucas County prosecutor's juvenile division, said she could not say how officials believe he was involved in the shooting, adding she intends to argue for the case to be moved to adult court.
The teen voluntarily went downtown Thursday to the Safety Building to speak to detectives and was charged after questioning, his family said. He will be held in detention until his probable cause hearing on Jan. 7.
WATCH: Lori Olender addresses the Malachi Barnes case
Officials previously said the teenager was from Detroit. However, members of his family said he was from Toledo.
His family declined further comment. Ronnie Wingate, the teen’s defense attorney, also declined to comment on the case.
Malachi Barnes was a passenger in a vehicle on I-75 near Collingwood Boulevard when a vehicle pulled up and opened fire. After the shooting, Malachi’s father, Anthony Barnes, drove to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, where his son later died.
A second child, 10 years old, was cut from broken glass. Mr. Barnes and a third child — a 2-year-old — were not hurt.
Ms. Hair said she had mixed emotions about Smith’s arrest.
“My main question is, why?” she said. “And was it really worth it?”
He might not have known at the time of the shooting that a child had been shot and killed, she said, but he would have found out soon from the news coverage of the killing.
“When he did know a kid was in the car, he didn’t come forward,” she said.
She’s still in shock from her son’s death, she said, and her other children aren’t the same. Ms. Hair is seeking counseling for herself and her children.
Her 6-year-old daughter, Camyra Hair, was especially close to young Barnes, Ms. Hair said. She keeps asking why he’s not coming home.
For his birthday, the family will do something to mark the occasion, Ms. Hair said.
“Every day is hard,” she said. “My baby’s gone.”
First Published December 7, 2018, 3:11 p.m.
