The last of three persons accused of a Feb. 2023 botched drug deal turned murder in Cuba’s Hood Park has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

The defendant, Malik Brandon, 26, of Belleville, Ill., was sentenced on Oct. 30 by Judge Sidney T. Pearson of the 25th Judicial Court in Phelps County and ordered into the custody of the Department of Corrections. In May, he acknowledged guilt to first-degree attempted robbery, first-degree assault, second-degree murder, and two counts of armed criminal action. His time of 12 years is only for the charge of first-degree attempted robbery. 

Mister Z. Halferty, a 33-year-old Union man, was shot at the park when a drug deal turned into a robbery and then murder. 

Three suspects were arrested — Brandon, Daeshawn Brandon, 24, of St. Louis, and Maurice Williams, 24, of Branson. 

According to court records and news reports, the threesome went to Hood Park on  Feb. 1, 2023, to buy marijuana from Halferty. During the initial drug buy, Halferty was shot multiple times. The three men then bolted from the park only to return a short time later. 

Upon return, the three men stole two pounds of marijuana from the victim’s vehicle. Then Daeshawn Brandon fired more shots into Halferty.

Last year, Daeshawn Brandon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving 99 years, while Maurice Williams was sentenced in September to 22 years for second-degree murder, first-degree assault and first-degree robbery.