CHARGED: 20-year-old accused in shots fired incident near MLK Center in Racine

RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- 20-year-old Demetrie Harris has been charged in connection with a shots fired incident that occurred near the Martin Luther King Center in Racine on Wednesday, June 4th.

Demetrie Harris



Harris faces one count of first degree recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon, one count of obstructing an officer, and one count of felony bail jumping.

A criminal complaint against Harris says at the time of this incident, he was free on felony bond -- ordered not to commit any crimes.

Harris has a case open against him in Columbia County -- where he's charged with battery to law enforcement officers, resisting or obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct.

He has a plea/sentencing hearing in that case scheduled for June 27th.

In the case filed against Harris on June 5th in Racine County, a criminal complaint says on Wednesday, June 4th, Racine police officers in the area of the Martin Luther King Center heard gunshots.

The complaint says in the rear of the building, police observed two individuals -- each in possession of firearms. The complaint says the individuals were observing the firearms under a street light.

Officers set up a perimeter, and an officer approached Harris -- who was walking, carrying the rifle. The complaint says the officer, fearing for his safety, pointed his patrol rifle at Harris and ordered him to stop.

The complaint says Harris took a step backwards, dropped the rifle and fled.

The other individual dropped his weapon and fled as well -- according to the complaint.

Officers were able to take Harris and the other individual into custody in the area of Prospect Street/Peck Avenue.

The complaint says officers were able to recover the .44 Smith & Wesson revolver carried by the second individual in this case near the Martin Luther King Center. It was found to have the serial number obliterated.

The complaint says officers recovered the rifle Harris was carrying. It was a Ruger Mini Thirty rifle -- and it was loaded with 14 live rounds of ammunition. The serial number on this weapon was also obliterated, according to the complaint.

Police spoke with Harris -- who told them he got the weapon he was carrying from a young (15 or 16) boy -- saying he got the weapon because he had been shot at in the area of the Martin Luther King Center on June 3rd.

The complaint says Harris told police he was walking with a group when an unknown party shot at the group twice from the area of the King Center.

The complaint says Harris told police the second individual in this case also received his weapon from this young boy.

The complaint says Harris told police after obtaining the weapons, he and the second individual went back to the area of the Martin Luther King Center. There, he says they were shot at again.

Harris told police he fired two rounds towards Martin Luther King Drive -- saying he doubt he hit the person because "he is a bad shot."

The complaint says Harris told police the two then fled -- with the second individual firing the remaining rounds in his revolver. Harris said they continued to run to the rear of the Martin Luther King Center building -- where they stopped briefly to fix the rifle.

That's when they ran into police.

Harris has a preliminary hearing in the Racine County case coming up on June 12th.