14-year-old boy died after his 16-year-old stepbrother who had “a predilection toward violent problem-solving” shot him to death; stepbrother sentenced
Utah – In a devastating case in Utah that left a family shattered, a 17-year-old boy, identified as H. Sagers, was sentenced on July 15 to serve between two and 15 years in juvenile detention and state prison after fatally shooting his 14-year-old stepbrother, identified as Malaki P.
Sagers, who was 16 at the time of the September 2024 shooting, originally faced an adult charge of murder but later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter. Prosecutors, while noting that the killing was not premeditated, revealed troubling details about Sagers’ mindset leading up to the shooting. Investigators found that Sagers had expressed a desire to harm and even kill Malaki in the days prior, describing him as having “a predilection toward violent problem-solving.” During the courtroom proceedings, Malaki’s mother, S. Hass, spoke of the tragic betrayal within their blended family. Hass, who was the live-in girlfriend of Sagers’ father, told the court that both boys were raised to understand gun safety. She said, he “had no qualms about pulling the trigger and stated he wanted to harm Malaki, knowing the repercussions of what firearms can inflict on another.”
On September 22, 2024, authorities responded to an emergency call at the family’s home. According to reports, the fatal confrontation began when Sagers and Malaki got into an argument. Sagers’ account to investigators changed over time. First, he claimed that Malaki had come at him with the gun, and it fired accidentally during a struggle. Later, Sagers admitted that after disarming his younger stepbrother, he intentionally pointed the gun at Malaki’s left shoulder, saying he wanted to hurt him — but insisted he never intended to kill him. Emergency responders rushed Malaki to the hospital, but despite their efforts, the 14-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries.
At sentencing, Sagers addressed the court and expressed regret, stating, “If I could say anything to Malaki, it would be how sorry I am, and how we should have talked through our problems. Although he and I had our issues, he was a great friend and the best little brother you could ask for. I am very sorry.” For Malaki’s mother, however, the grief was overwhelming. Hass told the court, “Not only did I lose one child that day, I lost both of my boys that day.” Still, she emphasized the importance of Sagers facing the consequences of his actions, no matter how painful.
Judge and prosecution acknowledged that while the act may not have been preplanned, the emotional turmoil and violent tendencies Sagers displayed were undeniable. With the sentencing, Sagers will spend time in juvenile detention, followed by transfer to adult prison — serving a sentence of two to 15 years. The case has left a deep scar on both the family and the wider community, with many left grappling with how a moment of violence destroyed a young life and fractured a family. The tragedy also raises difficult questions about how unresolved conflict, emotional struggles, and access to firearms can result in irreversible loss. As the legal process concludes, those left behind — especially Hass — will continue mourning the death of Malaki, a 14-year-old boy whose life was taken far too soon, and the loss of a stepson she once cared for, now behind bars.
