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Tuesday, June 3, 1997

Malcolm X's grandson had troubles in Texas before return to New York

By KELLEY SHANNON Associated Press Writer

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Malcolm X's grandson, accused of setting a fire that critically injured his grandmother in Yonkers, N.Y., struggled in school and had encounters with police during his recent short stay in Texas.

Malcolm Shabazz, 12, named for his famous grandfather, was arrested Sunday after an early-morning fire left Malcolm X's widow, Betty Shabazz, with third-degree burns over 80 percent of her body.

The youngster had returned to the New York City area about three weeks ago after a tumultuous five months living in San Antonio with his mother, Qubilah Shabazz, family friends said.

"Obviously, he did have some problems," said Chuck Andrews, president of Inner City Broadcasting Co. of San Antonio, which owns radio station KSJL, where Qubilah Shabazz worked before resigning last week.

"It was his grandmother's and his mother's opinion that he would probably do better in New York," Andrews said.

Qubilah Shabazz, who was 4 when she saw her father gunned down, has been working at KSJL under a court agreement in Minneapolis. That agreement resolved federal charges against her in a plot to kill Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

The charges were dropped last month after Qubilah Shabazz agreed to undergo treatment for chemical dependency.

Qubilah Shabazz reportedly was traveling Monday to New York.

"She is extremely distraught," Andrews said. "We've been trying to provide what support we could offer. ... It's just apparent that this family has had so much tragedy."

Malcolm Shabazz had been living with his grandmother until moving to San Antonio about six months ago, Andrews said.

The eighth-grader, who had attended a Lutheran school in New York, was enrolled at Redeemer Lutheran School in San Antonio from January until March, said principal Randy Harrison.

He played on the basketball team and made friends fairly easily, said Harrison. However, he said that the approximately 200 pupils at the school did not know he was related to the slain black leader.

"Malcolm was a likeable young man who succeeded at first, then had several lengthy absence periods. And each time he came back from them, he did not succeed," the principal said. "His mother was not always aware of where he was."

The boy's problems centered mostly around absences and grades, and he did not exhibit behavior that might suggest violence like that of which he is accused in New York, Harrison said.

"In terms of behavior, he was not a problem student," Harrison said. "Like any child at that rebellious age, he tried to get away with things that are fun to get away with."

Citing difficulties with his studies, Malcolm transferred to the public Nimitz Middle School in April, Harrison said. He was enrolled there only 13 days, records show.

According to police reports, officers were called several times to the San Antonio home of Qubilah Shabazz, the latest two incidents involving confrontations between Malcolm Shabazz and his mother.

In February, Ms. Shabazz told police Malcolm had attacked her and that she wanted him in a mental hospital. The son told police he was angry because his mother was drinking and wouldn't take him to school, reports said.

In April, police also were called to a family disturbance. Arrangements were made with Child Protective Services to move Malcolm out of the home, but he later was returned, police reports said.Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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