Nationwide — Actor Tray Chaney, widely recognized for his role as Malik “Poot” Carr on HBO’s The Wire, has posted an emotional video on Instagram after a powerful tornado demolished his family’s home and sent his 18-year-oldson flying 300 feet into the air. His son, Malachi, remains in the intensive care unit of a local hospital in Henry County, Georgia.
Tray himself was knocked unconscious and also suffered injuries, but is now at Malachi’s bedside, and is urging the public to keep his son in their thoughts.
Tray starred in all six seasons of The Wire from 2002 to 2008, where he portrayed a young drug dealer trying to navigate life in West Baltimore. Since then, he has continued his acting career with a notable role on the Bounce TV drama Saints & Sinners alongside actor Clifton Powell. In this show, Chaney plays Kendrick Murphy, a conflicted character caught between redemption and temptation in a community rife with scandal.
In a statement shared with WSB-TV, Chaney revealed that his son Malachi suffered several broken ribs and a fractured bone in his face. “I wish it was me that was in the ICU rather than him,” Chaney wrote. “I don’t want him experiencing no pain.”
On Instagram, the actor recounted the horrifying ordeal, explaining that his son was thrown 300 feet from his bedroom as the tornado tore through their home. Chaney himself was knocked unconscious and said he “woke up in a panic, crawled from under my house screaming my son’s name out.” Neighbors later discovered Malachi in the woods behind the remains of their home.
“Please cherish life. Hug your loved ones now. Life just changed for me & mine. We’ll never be the same,” Chaney wrote to his followers.
A GoFundMe page has been launched on his family’s behalf. So far, more than $10K has been raised.
The National Weather Service has dispatched survey teams to assess the damage in Henry County and determine the tornado’s strength and path.