On January 24, 2002, three-year-old Malik Andrade Percival was shot and killed inside his family’s Dorchester apartment after an intruder, posing as a police officer, knocked and tried to force the door open. The child died from a single gunshot wound; his parents, Belmira Andrade and Ian Percival, identified James Bush from a photo array and later in a lineup. Bush was arrested and charged with murder.

At trial the prosecution’s case collapsed when the lead homicide detective admitted under cross-examination to making false statements in reports and affidavits and to fabricating investigative details, including a videotape that did not exist. The defense argued the investigation had been narrowly focused on Bush and ignored other leads. The jury acquitted Bush, and no one was held legally responsible for Malik’s death.

Anyone with memories of the neighborhood, the day, or information about the case is asked to come forward.