Oakland Co. Man Sentenced In Beating Of Man, 80, In Gym Locker Room

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — A Farmington Hills man has been sentenced to prison after nearly beating an elderly man to death inside an Oakland County YMCA last year.

Malik Ali Smith, 21, was sentenced to serve a minimum of 23 months in prison and a maximum of 10 years in prison.

The sentence comes after Smith was found guilty of beating an 80-year-old man inside a Farmington Hills YMCA, located at 28100 Farmington Road at 11 a.m. on March 1, 2024.

Prosecutors said Smith and the elderly man exchanged words inside the locker room.

A witness then saw Smith slam the victim's head against a counter, before a good Samaritan pulled Smith away from the elderly man, prosecutors said.

Smith then ran from the facility and multiple schools in the area were placed on lockdown while officers searched for him, according to police.

Officers found Smith shortly later on Parkhill Street, north of 12 Mile Road where officers arrested him in connection with the beating, according to police.

Local reports identified the good Samaritan as former University of Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards.

"I didn’t know it was that serious, I mean the victim probably had a serious concussion by nature but It wasn’t until I talked to the detective Jacobs down in Farmington who told me that if I didn’t step in but at the end of the day that’s what you do," Edwards told WDIV.

Smith was originally charged with assault with intent to murder, but was found guilty of assault with intent to do great bodily harm in April. He will receive credit for 452 days served. The judge also said he cannot have contact with the victim or the victim's family.