A 16-year-old, identified as Malakiah Harris, is facing charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence after allegedly stabbing a 13-year-old girl, Savannah Copeland, 93 times in what he claimed was an act of self-defense. The incident took place 18 months ago in 2024 in Tennessee.
Harris, who was 15 years old at the time of the incident, reportedly stated to detectives that the victim had approached him aggressively during a meeting on a walking trail. Court documents revealed that the victim sustained at least 93 stab wounds primarily on her upper body before attempting to flee. Following the attack, Harris and his brother supposedly left the victim’s body at the scene and returned home.
According to reports, Harris later confided in his brother that the stabbing was an act of self-defense. He also allegedly boasted to his girlfriend about “getting his first body” without disclosing the specifics of the incident, and messaged a friend saying, “Deed is done” on the night of the killing.
Despite the lack of a clear motive for the attack, the victim’s father expressed concerns about the absence of a satisfactory explanation. The father emphasized the importance of teaching compassion to children and addressing behaviors that may lead to such tragic outcomes.
Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin ruled earlier this year that Harris would be tried as an adult due to the premeditated nature of the crime and the presence of probable cause. The case continues to unfold as the legal process moves forward.
