Malik Pridgen

Name of Accused:
Pridgen, Malik Deval

Date of Arrest:
09/14/2024


Charges For Arrest:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DVA – F
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN-3RD DEGREE – M
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
I was dispatched on September 14, 2024
at 0838 hrs to [90 BLOCK] W Gateway Blvd #[REDACTED] (Waters at Gateway) in reference to a shooting.
Upon my arrival to the above location I made with a black male, later identified as Malik Pridgen, in the breezeway of the apartment in question. Malik stated he was trying to get his stuff out of the house and that no one was shooting. As he was telling me this he was raising his arms and lifting his shirt as if to show me he was not armed. I then patted him down and did not feel anything I would associate with a pistol. Malik went on to state her momma don’t like me, referring to his children’s mother. He also advised that they called the police because they thing he’s threatening them. I then went to check on the other party.
I made with the occupants of apartment [REDACTED]. There were three adult females and two infant females. All began talking at once and on of the children was crying. I eventually was able to speak to [VICTIM ]. She advised me she got into an argument with her children’s father over an EBT card. [VICTIM ] informed me she and Malik had been arguing this morning prior to this incident, but she wasn’t really able to expand on what they argued about. However, according to [VICTIM ] she had enough and called her mother to come help her leave.
Once her mother and her mother’s friend arrived they had the argument over the EBT card in the living room. During this argument Malik decided he would leave and began moving things out. I observed a speaker and bed frame in the breezeway. At some point during the argument and Malik moving things out [VICTIM ] saw her mother, [VICTIM ], slam the door shut on Malik. The she heard two shots ring out directly after the door closed. I did observe a bullet hole in the drywall next to the front door along with fresh dust from the holes. I also observed two bullet holes in the siding on the outside near the door. It should be noted [VICTIM ] informed me that Malik has threatened to kill her prior to this incident and they have gotten into physical altercations. I then spoke with [VICTIM ].
[VICTIM ] confirmed what [VICTIM ] had told me about the argument. She also was not able to give me any specifics about what was actually said. She told me she slammed the door on Malik because she saw him pulling a semi automatic style pistol out of his waistband. She stated it was brown, but then said she was not sure and asked [VICTIM ]. [VICTIM ] advised it was black and [VICTIM ] agreed with her daughter.
I also spoke with [VICTIM ]’s friend [VICTIM ]. [VICTIM ] stated she had come with [VICTIM ] to help [VICTIM ] move out and was there for the argument. She didn’t see the gun but confirmed she heard the shots when [VICTIM ] slammed the door on Malik. I then went to finish speaking with Malik.
Malik advised me they had been arguing about the children and being able to feed the children. He went on to state he believes [VICTIM ] is selling their food stamps. He also informed me they got into an argument about him watching both children. Malik stated he couldn’t watch the younger child, [JUVENILE ], but he could watch [JUVENILE ]. According to Malik, that angered [VICTIM ]. At some point during the argument he decided to leave and during that time the door was shut on him. He advised that he banged on the door and maybe they though those were gunshots. I pointedly asked about the bullet holes in the side of the door and he stated he didn’t know anything about them. He went on to state he can’t be around guns because he is out on bond for a murder.
At this point the decision was made to detain Malik. I placed him in handcuffs and transferred custody of Malik and his phone to Ofc Reyes. Ofc Reyes then transported Malik to Sunoco gas station nearby because a crowd was gathering and in the crowd were family members as well as friends that were becoming upset. I then canvassed the building for any witnesses.
I spoke with [WITNESS ] in #[REDACTED] who stated she heard two gunshots at around “8 something”. I also spoke with [WITNESS ] at #[REDACTED] who informed me she heard two gunshots at around 0836 hrs. She also stated she heard gunshots about 2 months ago. I then spoke with [WITNESS ] at #[REDACTED] who advised she heard a single gunshot sometime after 0730. She was unsure, but I did observe she was still trying to wake as I was speaking to her.
A Pct 4 supervisor, SPD Forensics, and a detective responded. Det Gause ultimately made the decision to arrest Malik and charge him with Aggravated Assault/DVA, Cruelty to Children 3rd x2, and Aggravated Assault x2. Malik was transported to CCDC by Ofc Reyes. [VICTIM ] was offered services but made the decision to leave with her mother
A CRN was issued.
[End of Narrative]