Exactly 56 years since Malcolm X was assassinated in New York City, lawyers and family members of the late civil rights leader released a letter they claim shows the NYPD and FBI conspired in his murder.  

The note, said to be a deathbed confession made by Ray Wood, a former undercover NYPD officer, was unveiled in a press conference by civil rights attorney Ben Crump in February.

Wood claimed in his letter that the FBI and the NYPD conspired to kill Malcolm X, who was gunned down on February 21, 1965 inside Harlem's Audubon Ballroom during a rally.

He alleged that he was pressured by his NYPD supervisors to lure two members of Malcolm X's security detail into committing crimes that resulted in their arrest just days before the shooting.

Those arrests kept the two men from managing door security at the ballroom on the night Malcolm was killed, according to the letter.

'My job was to infiltrate civil rights organizations throughout New York City, to find evidence of criminal activity, so the FBI could discredit and arrest its leaders,' Wood stated in the letter.

'Under the direction of my handlers I was told to encourage leaders and members of civil rights groups to commit felonious acts.'

Exactly 56 years since Malcolm X (right) was assassinated in New York City, lawyers and family members of the late civil rights leader have released a letter they claim shows the NYPD and FBI conspired in his murder. (Pictured left is Reggie Wood, Ray Wood's cousin)

During Saturday's conference Wood's cousin, Reggie Wood, said he confessed to his involvement in 2011 when he believed a worsening cancer would take his life. He ultimately went into remission and lived until November 2020

In his later, dated January 25, 2011, the former officer claimed his actions were done under duress and fear of retaliation.

'After witnessing repeated brutality at the hands of my colleagues (police), I tried to resign. Instead, I was threatened with arrest by pinning marijuana and alcohol trafficking charges on me if I did not follow through with the assignments.'

On February 16, 1965 Wood claims he coerced members of Malcolm X's security detail into plan a bombing at the Statue of Liberty.

The plan was then foiled by police and the two men were 'arrested just days before the assassination of Malcolm. At the time I was not aware that Malcolm X was the target,' Wood wrote.

Wood signed the letter and instructed his cousin to hold the information until after his passing.

'It is my hope that this information is received with the understanding that I have carried these secrets with a heavy heart and remorsefully regret my participation in this matter.'

During Saturday's conference Wood's cousin, Reggie Wood, said he confessed to his involvement in 2011 when he believed a worsening cancer would take his life. He ultimately went into remission and lived until November 2020.

'For 10 years, I have carried this confession secretly in fear of what could happen to my family and myself if the government found out what I knew,' Reggie Wood said.

Now Malcolm X's three daughters - Qubiliah, Ilyasah, and Gamilah Shabazz - joined civil rights attorney Ben Crump demanding for the murder investigation to be re-opened in light of the 'new evidence' shared Saturday.

'Any evidence that provides greater insight into the truth behind that terrible tragedy should be thoroughly investigated,' said Ilyasah Shabazz.

Malcolm X was shot seconds after stepping to a lectern to speak inside the Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965

Two policemen carry stretcher bearing Malcom X after he was downed by an assassin's bullets at a rally

An autopsy later revealed that he had suffered a total of 21 gunshot wounds to his chest, arms and legs

In his later, dated January 25, 2011, the former officer claimed his actions were done under duress and fear of retaliations

Attorney Ray Hamlin added: 'So, what we're trying to do is talk about restorative justice is as lawyers - try to pursue relentless justice.

'On behalf of the legacy of Malcolm X, Dr. Betty Shabazz, on behalf of his family his lineage who is here.'

Three Nation of Islam members, Mujahid Abdul Halim (also known as Talmadge Hayer and Thomas Hagan), Muhammad Abdul Aziz (also known as Norman 3X Butler) and Khalil Islam (also known as Thomas 15X Johnson), were convicted of Malcolm X's murder in 1966 and sentenced to life in prison.

While Halim admitted to taking part in the assassination, he insisted that Aziz and Islam were not involved. And the two maintained their innocence throughout the years.

Islam died in 2009 and Halim and Aziz have since been paroled.

Last year the Manhattan DA began a review of their Islam and Aziz's convictions after meeting with representatives of the Innocence Project.

Now, with the new evidence, the DA's office says 'the review of this matter is active and ongoing.'

The NYPD said in a separate statement it has 'provided all available records relevant to that case to the District Attorney' and 'remains committed to assist with that review in any way.'

The FBI declined to comment on the matter.

Three Nation of Islam members (left to right), Mujahid Abdul Halim (also known as Talmadge Hayer and Thomas Hagan), Muhammad Abdul Aziz (also known as Norman 3X Butler) and Khalil Islam (also known as Thomas 15X Johnson), were convicted of Malcolm X's murder in 1966 and sentenced to life in prison

'For 10 years, I have carried this confession secretly in fear of what could happen to my family and myself if the government found out what I knew,' Reggie Wood said

Malcolm X was a powerful orator who rose to prominence as the national spokesman of the Nation of Islam, an African-American Muslim group that espoused Black separatism.

He spent more than a decade with the group before becoming disillusioned and publicly breaking with it in 1964. He moderated some of his earlier views on the benefits of racial separation.

Malcolm X was shot seconds after stepping to a lectern to speak inside the Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965.

Seconds before, a man had stood up and yelled, 'N***** get your hand out of my pocket!'

As Malcolm X and his entourage attempted to quell the disturbance, a man rushed forward towards the stage and shot him once in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun, and two other men then opened fire with semi-automatic handguns.

The civil rights activist was rushed to Columbia Presbyterian where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, at 3:30pm.

An autopsy later revealed that he had suffered a total of 21 gunshot wounds to his chest, arms and legs.

Thomas Hagan, 22, struggles with police who take him from the scene outside the ballroom where Malcolm X was shot and killed

'Any evidence that provides greater insight into the truth behind that terrible tragedy should be thoroughly investigated,' said Ilyasah Shabazz

Days earlier, Malcolm X had ominously told a reporter that he believed members of the Nation of Islam were seeking to kill him.

He was being surveilled by the FBI at the time. His home in Queens was firebombed the week before his death. 

Almost immediately after his death, conspiracies of police involvement in the assassination began to circulate.

Many of the theories centered on the ease in which the assassins were able to enter the ballroom, and the police's perceived failure to preserve the crime scene.

One of the officers involved, Tony Bouza, would later write in his 2011 book 'Manny Marable's Malcolm X' that the 'investigation was botched.'