Just hours before a fatal confrontation, Malique Calloo was at the Windsor courthouse, desperately seeking joint custody of his daughter. His former girlfriend was preparing to move to the United States, taking their child with her, and Calloo felt time slipping away.
The planned move to Michigan included the woman’s new partner, Daniel Squalls, and both men shared a daughter with her. This created a complex and emotionally charged situation, fueling Calloo’s frantic efforts to maintain a relationship with his child.
The grandmother testified that Calloo’s visit to the courthouse was a last-ditch attempt to prevent the relocation to Detroit. He feared losing access to his daughter, and the move felt like a deliberate attempt to sever their bond.
After leaving the courthouse, Calloo purchased shoes for his daughter, a small gesture of love amidst the turmoil. He then drove to the couple’s home, hoping for a chance to see her, but his knocks went unanswered.
On the phone with her grandson, the grandmother pleaded with him to return home. “Malique, go home,” she urged, fearing he would find himself in trouble. She wanted to protect him, but understood his desperation.
Less than two hours later, at 4:26 p.m. on November 28, 2022, the situation exploded. Fifteen bullets were fired at Squalls, ending his life in front of his home. The peace of the neighborhood was shattered in an instant.
Calloo now stands accused of second-degree murder. The defense concedes he fired the shots, but argues it was a crime of passion, a desperate act born from intense emotional distress.
The grandmother described a long-standing disapproval of Squalls, finding him “very disrespectful.” She maintained a close relationship with Calloo, whom she considered “very respectful,” and often acted as a mediator between him and her granddaughter.
She had repeatedly contacted the Children’s Aid Society, voicing concerns about Squalls’ behavior and his daughter’s school attendance. While she never witnessed abuse directly, her fears were persistent and deeply troubling.
On one occasion, she attempted a wellness check on her great-granddaughter but was blocked by Squalls, leading to a physical altercation within his apartment. The tension between them was palpable and often escalated.
Two days before the shooting, the grandmother learned of the plan to move to Detroit, and eventually Texas. She immediately alerted Calloo’s mother, recognizing the urgency of the situation.
“You need to get Malique down to the courts and apply for joint custody immediately,” she urged, understanding that legal custody could be the only way to prevent the move. She believed it was a race against time.
Calloo contacted his grandmother three times on the day of the shooting, informing her he had filed the paperwork and intended to see his daughter. He was unaware she had already left for the United States the previous day.
His final call came from the street outside the couple’s residence, where he was met with silence. Frustrated and anxious, he asked about a neighbor who was a friend of his former girlfriend.
The neighbor testified that Calloo simply wanted to see his daughter. She observed his agitation and sensed his desperation. Shortly after, she left for an appointment.
On her return, she heard a series of loud noises – gunshots. Neighbors panicked, pointing towards the house. She then saw Calloo’s car speeding away.
Turning the corner, she found Daniel Squalls lying motionless on the ground. Overcome with emotion, she screamed for someone to call 911, identifying the victim. Her voice broke as she recounted the horrific scene.
The witness’s testimony was so emotionally charged that the judge called for a recess, allowing her a moment to compose herself. The trial continues, seeking to unravel the events that led to this tragic outcome.
