Malik Smith, 21, Guilty of Assaulting 80-Year-Old at YMCA

Malik Ali Smith, 21, was found guilty by an Oakland County jury of assault with intent to do great bodily harm after attacking an 80-year-old man in a Farmington Hills YMCA locker room on March 1, 2024. The assault began after the two exchanged words, culminating in Smith slamming the victim's head against a counter and leaving him unconscious and hospitalized. Former University of Michigan football player Braylon Edwards intervened, pulling Smith away and potentially saving the victim's life, according to police and prosecutors. Smith fled the scene but was quickly apprehended nearby following a tip to law enforcement. Prosecutors initially charged Smith with assault with intent to murder, but the jury convicted him of the lesser charge, which carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, and officials hope the verdict provides justice for the victim.