Thomas Hagan facts for kids

Thomas Hagan (born March 16, 1941) was once a member of the Nation of Islam. He was involved in the shooting of Malcolm X in 1965. For a time, he was also known as Talmadge X Hayer. His chosen Islamic name is Mujahid Abdul Halim.

The Shooting of Malcolm X

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was shot at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City. Thomas Hagan was shot in the leg by one of Malcolm X's bodyguards while trying to leave the building.

Because of his injury, Hagan was caught by people in the crowd. They held him until police arrived and arrested him. Hagan later admitted to being involved in the crime. However, he said that Thomas Johnson (also known as Khalil Islam) and Norman 3X Butler (also known as Muhammad Abdul Aziz) were not involved. These two men were arrested later.

How the Shooting Happened

In 1977, Hagan stated in an official document that he had planned the shooting with four other people. Johnson and Butler were not among them. He said they wanted revenge because Malcolm X had publicly criticized Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam.

Hagan explained that one of his helpers, William 25X Bradley, created a distraction. He started an argument about being pickpocketed. When Malcolm X's bodyguards moved towards the argument, a man with a shotgun shot Malcolm X in the chest. After that, Hagan and another person shot more rounds at Malcolm X with handguns.

Later Life

In 1966, Hagan, Butler, and Johnson were all found guilty and sentenced to prison for a long time. While in prison, Hagan earned two college degrees. He asked to be released 16 times, but his requests were denied each time. Butler was released in 1985, and Johnson was released in 1987.

From 1988, Hagan was part of a program that allowed him to work outside the prison. This program meant he only had to spend two days a week at Lincoln Correctional Facility. This was a prison with low security in Manhattan. For the rest of the week, he could stay with his wife and children. He worked at different places, including a youth center and a homeless shelter. Hagan was finally granted release in March 2010 and left prison at the end of April 2010.

In 2021, Hagan supported the decision to overturn the convictions of Thomas Johnson and Norman 3X Butler. This matched his earlier statements that they were not involved in Malcolm X's shooting.

Thomas Hagan is still a practicing Muslim. However, he is no longer part of the Nation of Islam because he does not agree with their beliefs anymore. He has expressed "regrets and sorrow" for his role in the shooting of Malcolm X.