Muskegon Man Sentenced to 15 Years After 2024 Shooting

Malik Jones Smith violated parole and was found with a stolen gun linked to a Muskegon Heights shooting.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Malik Jones Smith, a 30-year-old Muskegon man, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for previously violating his supervised release. The charges stemmed from a 2024 incident where Jones Smith and another person fled from police in a van, with authorities later recovering a stolen loaded pistol near the vehicle. Evidence from Jones Smith's phone linked him to a Muskegon Heights shooting that occurred around the same time.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of gun violence and repeat offenders in the Muskegon area. Authorities are working to remove dangerous individuals from the streets and improve public safety, though the cycle of crime and recidivism remains a persistent issue.

The details

On December 28, 2024, Jones Smith and another person fled from a Muskegon police officer in a van before running away on foot. Police later recovered a stolen loaded pistol near the van. Authorities found evidence on Jones Smith's phone that he had uploaded a video with the same gun on Snapchat less than 10 hours before the incident. They also determined he and the van's passenger were involved in a Muskegon Heights shooting around that time. At the time of the shooting, Jones Smith was on federal supervised release after being convicted of distributing fentanyl. He had been released from prison just 16 days earlier.

  • On December 28, 2024, Jones Smith and another person fled from police in a van.
  • Jones Smith uploaded a video with the same gun used in the incident to Snapchat less than 10 hours before the December 28, 2024 incident.
  • Jones Smith was on federal supervised release at the time of the December 2024 incident, having been released from prison just 16 days earlier.

The players

Malik Jones Smith

A 30-year-old Muskegon man who was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for previously violating his supervised release.

Muskegon Police Chief Tim Kozal

The Muskegon Police Chief who stated that removing dangerous offenders from the streets and improving public safety is the top priority of the agency.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey

The U.S. Attorney who stated that Jones Smith deserved the maximum possible sentence for his conduct and that his office will not tolerate gun violence, especially by convicted felons.

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What they’re saying

“Working daily to put an end to gun violence in the Muskegon area is the top priority of our agency.”

— Tim Kozal, Muskegon Police Chief (woodtv.com)

“Jones-Smith got into a shootout a little more than two weeks after being released from prison for his last felony, and after promising to be a law-abiding citizen if he got released into the community. He deserved to get the maximum possible sentence for this conduct, and that is exactly what he got. My office will not tolerate gun violence, especially by convicted felons.”

— Timothy VerHey, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan (woodtv.com)

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of reducing gun violence and recidivism in the Muskegon area, as authorities work to remove dangerous repeat offenders from the streets and hold them accountable for violating the terms of their release. The sentencing demonstrates the commitment to using all available resources to improve public safety, though the cycle of crime remains a persistent issue.