Following the Department of Justice's probe into the Phoenix Police Department, revelations of excessive force and civil rights violations are resonating with the family of Jacob Harris, a 19-year-old shot and killed by police officers in 2019. The DOJ's findings corroborate long-held grievances from Harris' family about the use of deadly force. According to an ABC15 interview, Roland Harris, Jacob's father, is demanding change and federal oversight in response to the DOJ's scathing review. Harris believes his son was wrongfully killed and is pushing for the release of his son's friends, who were charged with his death under Arizona's felony murder law.
On January 11, 2019, Phoenix police followed a group of teenagers, including Harris, after they reportedly committed an armed robbery. As reported by AZFamily, officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, but Harris fled and was fatally shot in the back when police claimed he pointed a gun at them. However, the family contests that Harris was unarmed. Despite the officers being cleared and a wrongful death lawsuit dismissed, Roland Harris is to continue fighting, now validated by the DOJ's recent findings.
Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke cited the case of Jacob Harris as one of the examples of excessive force used by Phoenix police. The federal investigation has brought renewed attention to the case, which Roland Harris says supports his critique over the past five years. "It felt good because it was like finally, after five years of fighting ... for the Department of Justice to say yes your son was tortured, yes your son was denied first aid yes, your son should have never have had that happened ... that felt good," Roland Harris said in a statement obtained by AZFamily.
In light of the DOJ report, there are calls for the release of Harris' three friends – Johnny Reed, Jeremiah Triplett, and Sariah Busani – who were implicated in his death due to their association with the alleged crime. Despite these pressures, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office has expressed confidence in the sentences imposed, stating, "In each of their cases, there was overwhelming evidence of guilt under the law." This sentiment was conveyed in a response sent out regarding the case, where the attorney's office emphasized that the sentencing was based on "their level of involvement, their age, and their criminal history," as ABC15 reported.
