A father with gold teeth had his kids and girlfriend in the car when police shot him dead, now his family are millionaires
On September 22, 2025 a federal judge approved a $2.5 million settlement after 30-year-old Malcolm Staton was shot and killed unlawfully by Union County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Nicholas Kirkley in Union County, NC. Sheriff Eddie Cathey decided to settle the lawsuit with Malcolm’s family to avoid court. Follow Charlotte Alerts on Instagram. Cops were looking for drugs, but no drugs were found on Malcolm.
The fatal shooting was on March 15, 2022 Malcolm was in a car with his girlfriend and 3 kids at a gas station near the intersection of Walkup Avenue and Macintyre Street.
Malcolm and family were about to get some snacks from the convenience store. The Union County Sheriff’s Office was conducting an undercover drug investigation and they magically assumed that Malcolm had drugs on him.
So cops in unmarked cars with lights flashing drove to Malcolm’s vehicle and cornered it in from the front and back. Malcolm drove around the front cop car and Deputy Kirkley shot Malcolm 3 times in the head while his 3 kids and girlfriend watched in terror.
Malcolm did not have any drugs on him or in the car.
Malcolm’s girlfriend was shot in the chest by Deputy Kirkley. Malcolm died at the hospital 2 days later on March 17, 2022.
In early 2025 Malcolm’s mom and girlfriend filed a lawsuit against the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Cathey agreed to settle the $2.5 million wrongful death lawsuit less than three months after it was filed by Malcolm’s family.
The district attorney’s office refused to prosecute Deputy Kirkley.
