Incident Richmond-Police-Shoot-Tamar-Xavier-Harris

Incident Description

Tamar was 20 years old when someone called the police and got him shot. We don't know exactly what happened, but here's what police said.

According to the police narrative, the Richmond Police received a call that someone was experiencing what is categorized as a mental health crisis.

Operating on this knowledge, the kid, if actively within the onset of a psychiatric episode, could be assumed to have been vulnerable and incapacitated by his current suffering, as episodes can be genuinely agonizing for those experiencing them. If they do not cause the person experiencing them pain in that moment, they do render that person impaired.

Tamar was probably experiencing something deeply traumatic, terrifying, and personal. He was not in a good place, but he was at his house.

Then the Richmond Police showed up at his door wearing badges and guns, demanding to see him, saying they'd gotten a call. Tamar must have been terrified, but we don't know, because the two police officers forced their way inside his home and when Tamar feared for his life, it was said that he shot his gun.

Adult police officers entered his home with the presumed knowledge that he was vulnerable and experiencing an acute event. The police officers knew they were not there to investigate a crime, and they were free.to leave. They did not bring care, compassion, and peace to his neighborhood that night. They escalated it and they shot the person who needed "their" help. They did not fear for the kid's safety.

Instead, they shot him. They said they got scared.

A barrage of negative news stories slandering Tamar and lauding the bravery of William Turner, the Richmond Police officer who shot Tamar and also got shot, ensued for months, then recycled for years as if Officer William Turner had done a heroic deed. A vigil was even held for Officer Turner's injury.

"The suspect was also shot," the Richmond Police wrote. We don't know anything more than that nor what the episode actually looked like.

Officer William Turner received commendations and 20-year-old Tamar Xavier Harris, who had no previous criminal record that is public, received four felony charges. Two of these were filed with the lower court and were not prosecuted.

A grand jury convened without Tamar present, as the law does not allow for the accused to appear, an attorney for the accused to appear, or evidence to be brought before the grand jury that might contradict that which the prosecutor brings before the grand jury. The grand jury then decides if Tamar should be prosecuted for the charges brought by the prosecutor, and he was. Tamar Harris was sentenced to 35 years in prison with 12 suspended. Upon release, he will be on "Indefinite Supervision" for the rest of his life.

Tamar is in Sussex State Prison. His inmate number is 1694392 (https://www.jpay.com/FirstTime.aspx?Search=1694392&State=VA).