Victim Found Dead In Burned Car, Convicted Felon Now Accused Of Murder

A convicted felon now faces murder charges after being accused of killing a man found dead in a vehicle fire.

On Aug. 16, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida responded to a report of shots being fired and a wrecked vehicle.

When deputies arrived, they found a man inside the vehicle. Fire crews had extinguished the blaze, according to the sheriff’s office. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The name of the victim hasn’t been released.

Investigators identified was a suspect vehicle and its owner Malik Gaines. On Aug. 23, deputies arrested Gaines and charged him with second-degree murder and other counts. A motive in the case has not been released.

Gaines was previously arrested in 2021 for carrying a concealed firearm and other counts.