SAGINAW, MI — A Saginaw man who shares his name with an NBA legend is about to face trial on charges that he murdered a man and wounded two women. Whether he is acquitted or convicted, a second murder trial looms in his future, as he and his younger brother are accused of gunning down and discarding a Midland woman.
As prosecutors put it, his “reputation for dangerousness cannot be overstated.”
The first of Shaquille O’Neal Baskin’s two murder trials begins with jury selection on Wednesday, Feb. 18, before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Manvel Trice III. In this case, he is charged with 10 counts: open murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, five counts of felony firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and felon in possession of ammunition.
Baskin’s attorney, James F. Gust, declined to comment on the defense’s perspective.
Prosecutors allege Baskin, 32, on the evening of Dec. 28, 2024, was at a house in the 1900 block of Fairfax Street, hanging out with 57-year-old Tracey A. Bowens and two women, ages 57 and 59. Seemingly without provocation, Baskin opened fire on the trio, mortally wounding Bowens and injuring the two women, prosecutors contend.
Tracey A. Bowens
Saginaw resident Tracey A. Bowens, 57, who on Dec. 28, 2024, was fatally shot on the city's East Side.Cole Waterman
Baskin fled the scene before police arrived in a vehicle driven by his girlfriend, prosecutors contend. She drove him back to their shared apartment from which they had recently been evicted, where Baskin proceeded to drink alcohol and use cocaine, prosecutors allege.
Baskin grew paranoid and pulled a pistol with an extended magazine, which he began striking against a wall, prosecutors allege. He allegedly told his girlfriend he had just shot three people, pointed his gun at her, and threatened to “blow your (expletive) noodles all over this (expletive) wall!”
The girlfriend begged Baskin not to kill her while her children were in the next room, prosecutors have said. Baskin did not end up shooting her, but continued threatening her, saying, “You know too much! You know too much!”
Prosecutors believe Baskin may have killed Bowens to silence his knowledge of a homicide that occurred the month prior, that of Kari Jo Hatfield.
Police found Hatfield, 47, lying in the road near the intersection of Perkins and South 12th streets about 6:25 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2024. Hatfield, a Midland resident also known by the surname Vaughn, was suffering from a gunshot wound to her head and died at a local hospital.
Prosecutors allege Hatfield had often served as a chauffeur for Baskin and his brother, Thomas C. Baskin Jr. They allege the Baskin brothers ran her over and shot her, then drove off in her vehicle.
Police located Hatfield’s blood-covered vehicle within a few hours with Thomas Baskin Jr. and Henry M. Linzy III inside, prosecutors allege. As a result, both Baskin brothers are charged with seven counts: open murder, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, tampering with evidence, and three counts of felony firearm.
Thomas C. Baskin Jr.
Thomas C. Baskin Jr. appears from the Saginaw County Jail for arraignment on a murder charge in Saginaw County District Court on Nov. 27, 2024.Cole Waterman
Prosecutors initially charged Linzy with the same seven counts, though they dismissed their case against him in January 2025.
Forensic evidence indicates the same gun was used to kill both Hatfield and Bowens, court records show. One of the women Shaquille Baskin allegedly shot on Dec. 28 overheard him and his brother discussing Hatfield’s killing, prosecutors allege. Shaquille Baskin’s DNA was also recovered from a discarded bag that contained bloody clothing and items belonging to Hatfield, prosecutors contend.
A Michigan State Police Fugitive Team arrested Shaquille Baskin during a traffic stop on Dec. 31, 2024.
In addition to the charges stemming from Bowens’ homicide, Shaquille Baskin is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and three firearms offenses related to his alleged assault on his girlfriend. He is facing unrelated charges of third-offense operating while intoxicated, assaulting or resisting police, and possessing less than 25 grams of a narcotic or cocaine.
The Baskin brothers’ trial on the charges stemming from Hatfield’s killing is to begin before Judge Trice on July 14.
Thomas Baskin Jr. in May 2024 was acquitted of murder in the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old Brandon L. Patterson on May 20, 2022. Charged alongside him was his older cousin, Timothy B. Baskin Jr., while his uncle Timothy B. Baskin Sr. faced a count of accessory after the fact to a felony.
Prosecutors argued at trial the Baskin cousins approached Patterson and others in front of a residence at 3622 Fulton St. They alleged Thomas Baskin Jr. handed a pistol to his cousin, who then shot Patterson and another man.
Prosecutors argued Timothy Baskin Sr. drove the cousins from the scene, though evidence at trial indicated his son drove himself away.
Jurors acquitted Thomas Baskin Jr. and his uncle but convicted Timothy Baskin Jr. of second-degree murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and 10 firearm-related felonies. Circuit Judge Darnell Jackson sentenced Timothy Baskin Jr. to 40 to 65 years in prison on the murder conviction.