It was a murder that shocked a family and the community: Dr. Daniel Malakov was shot dead in Rego Park on October 28, 2007, while expecting to hand his four-year-old daughter Michelle to his ex-wife, Dr. Mazoltuv Borukhova. She hired her uncle, Mikhail Mallayev, to shoot her ex-husband. Both were convicted and are currently serving life sentences in prison.
On Sunday, May 4, 2025, family, friends, and the community turned out to name the intersection of Yellowstone Boulevard and 64th Road “Dr. Daniel Malakov Way.”
Before the street renaming, more than 200 people listened to speeches under a tent from family members, politicians, and the family attorney in the same Annadale Playground where Daniel was murdered.
Dr. Malakov’s 21-year-old daughter, Michelle, is married with two children and is studying to be a psychologist.
“I did not get a chance to know my father very well. After hearing so many stories from people who knew him, I feel like I have known him for centuries,” she said.
Michelle read the poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis, which reads in part:
“If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real and always try to understand the way other people feel…
“And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before…
“If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.”
“I know he’s looking down on us with a smile over me, Ariel – my husband – and, of course, his two little grandchildren, Adina and Moshe,” said Michelle.
Gabriel Malakov, Daniel’s brother, said that 64th Road was where Daniel had his dental practice. He did his push-ups and pull-ups on 64th Road in Annadale Park. He would take 64th Road to his favorite store at that time, The Lemon Drop, to get fruits to share with his staff. It was also on 64th Road where Daniel’s life ended. “64th Road has a lot of meaning attached to his story, to his legacy,” Gabriel noted. Daniel wasn’t a seeker of fame. “One of his biggest traits was humility.”
Daniel “was a pretty decent guitar player, and he loved going to concerts, so this song, hopefully, will be able to reflect that talent of my brother.” Gabriel sang the first verse of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” in tribute to his brother.
The father of the murdered dentist, Khaika Malakov, spoke for nine minutes in Russian.
The mother, Malka Malakov, did not speak publicly but said in a private interview that her son came to America when he was 17 or 18, knowing very little English. He earned a bachelor’s degree from York College after one and a half years and then attended NYU Dental School. Daniel later became part of the faculty at Columbia University’s Dental School. Malka described her son as a “very good guy – humble, nice, understanding, and educated.”
Terrence “Terry” Worms, the family law attorney who “fought for Michelle’s well-being and custody rights,” spoke at the event, according to David Aronov, the moderator of the day’s event and a Forest Hills District Leader, who proposed the street renaming last year.
Worms said he met the Malakov family “at their darkest moments” – after Daniel was murdered. Based on numerous conversations with the family, and reviewing case records and transcripts, the one thing Worms learned about Dr. Malakov “was his true compassion – that after everything he endured, his final moments were to show compassion for someone who showed him none.”
“Daniel never showed spite, and his family was the same, as they endured the entire court process I was with them,” Worms added. “We should stand for that compassion, no matter who sits across from us.”
Aronov read a note from retired Sergeant Claudia Bartolomey of the 112th Precinct, which stated that Dr. Daniel Malakov’s murder “shook our community to the core. He was murdered in broad daylight in Annadale Playground, just steps from his dental office, and in the presence of his young daughter.”
“Daniel was more than a victim. He was a beacon of kindness and dedication. As a Bukharian Jewish immigrant from Uzbekistan, he built a successful dental practice on 64th Road, serving patients from all walks of life. He was known for his generosity, often providing care to those who couldn’t afford it. His commitment to his community and his profession was unwavering.” The street naming “stands as a reminder of the positive impact one individual can have on a community and the importance of standing against domestic violence.” Let Daniel’s life “inspire us to foster a community rooted in compassion, justice, and resilience.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng said Dr. Malakov “touched the hearts and minds of so many in our community.” When people see the permanent sign and ask who Dr. Malakov was, “we can retell his story and the good works that he did for our community.”
City Councilwoman Lynn Schulman said Dr. Malakov “was an esteemed community dentist; and through his practice in Forest Hills, he particularly served the Bukharian community.”
Aronov said the murder “shook the community to the core, and here we are, 18 years later – very long overdue – to celebrate Dr. Daniel Malakov Way.”
Police officers from the 112th Precinct and Shmira Public Safety provided security for the event.
By David Schneier
