Malcolm X was killed on February 21, 1965.

Malcolm X was shot at close range as he prepared to speak at Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965, while his four girls and pregnant wife took refuge in the front row. Unfortunately, this happened just as his newfound convictions had the potential to alter the direction of the Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm X was taken in an ambulance and later pronounced dead at a hospital nearby. For his murder, three Nation of Islam members were found guilty.

However, all three men were convicted guilty and given prison terms ranging from 20 years to life. After an inquiry that included the revelation of crucial FBI records that had been concealed from the defense and prosecution during the trial, Aziz and Islam were cleared in 2021. At the time of his exoneration, Aziz was 83; Islam had passed away in 2009.