Leland Harris

Leland Joseph Harris (Courtesy The Gazette)

Leland Joseph Harris

Homicide — SOLVED

Leland Joseph Harris
34 YOA
500 block of 10th Street SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Linn County
Case # 2017-18948
November 21, 2017

 

 

UPDATE

James Stephan Phillips, who was 17 at the time of Leland Harris’ murder, was arrested on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, and charged with first-degree murder in Harris’s death. He was charged formally on Thursday, April 4, in Linn County District Court with first-degree murder, first-degree theft, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and going armed with intent.

Full story at The Gazette


Leland Joseph Harris, 34, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was shot to death in an alley in the 500 block of 10th Street SW late on Tuesday, November 21, 2017.

Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said officers were called to the alley at 7:24 a.m. Wednesday, November 22, for a deceased man located there. According to a Cedar Rapids Gazette story published Nov. 22, 2017, Buelow said the man, who was in his 30s, had suffered “fatal traumatic injuries.” 

Linn County in Iowa
Linn County in Iowa
 
Cedar Rapids in Linn CountyCedar Rapids in Linn County

A Gazette story published Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, identified the victim as that of Leland J. Harris. 

At the time of November 27 story, Buelow said no additional details were available in the homicide investigation.

According to his obituary, Harris was a graduate of Xavier High School. He loved “dancing, music, art and people,” his obituary stated.

“There is no words to express the loss we feel for our son, brother, father, grandson, nephew and friend,” the obituary read. “Leland, we love you and miss you today, tomorrow and forever.”

Harris’ death became one of the city’s six homicides of 2017, The Gazette said, including two others the previous week. The paper cited the following five other Cedar Rapids homicides as of Nov. 27, 2017:

— Andrew Meeks Jr., 26, was fatally shot July 2. Authorities said he was in a car with Johnny Moore Jr. when they both were hit by gunfire. Their car crashed into a guard rail at the Walmart Supercenter, 3601 29th Ave. SW. Moore survived. Quarzone E. Martin, 25, was arrested in September and faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, going armed with intent and willful injury causing serious injury.

— Charles Flint, 60, of Cedar Rapids, died July 25 after he was found two days earlier in the 100 block of 11th Street SW. Police initially thought a pedestrian accident happened, but later determined Flint was the victim of an assault.

— Kenneth L. Everett, 33, was fatally shot Sept. 16. Police said Everett and Gabriel C. Thomas were inside a bedroom at 383 17th St. SE when shots were fired into the home, killing Everett.

— The body of Tarrence Newman, 40, was found outside of his home at 1506 D Ave. NE when police responded there for a disturbance around 9:45 p.m. Nov. 12. Authorities said Newman was shot to death.

— Heidi L.A. Stephens, 33, of Cedar Rapids, was shot on Nov. 20. She was found by police lying in a front yard in the 1500 block of Second Avenue SE. Stephens was declared brain dead on Nov. 22 and put on life support to facilitate organ donation. On Nov. 24, Cedar Rapids police announced that Zackary D. Ildefonso, 24, had been charged with first-degree murder, going armed with intent, intimidation with a weapon causing injury, carrying weapons and trafficking in stolen weapons in Stephens’ death.

~ Courtesy Lee Hermiston, The Gazette

About Leland Joseph Harris (information from obituary)

Leland Joseph Harris was born May 13, 1983, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Randy and Maureen (Molloy) Harris. He graduated from Xavier High School, Cedar Rapids.

Leland loved dancing, music, art and people.

He died in Cedar Rapids on November 21, 2017, at age 34.

A Celebration of Life was held at 4 p.m. Friday, December 1, 2017, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, #909, Cedar Rapids.

Burial was held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2017, at the St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Georgetown, Iowa, with arrangements by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.

A remembrance began at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2017, at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (Georgetown) mass in Albia, Iowa, with a candlelight vigil following mass.

In addition to his parents, Leland’s survivors included his son, Keaton Lee Wikoff-Harris, and his mother, Brooklyn Wikoff, of Des Moines; sister, Kelly Jo Harris of Cedar Rapids; niece, Elliah Jo Palma; nephew, Knoxx Sawyer Harris; grandparents, John Molloy of Des Moines and Monica Harris of Meridian, Idaho; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lucille Molloy and Don Harris; and his best friend, Mark Sebetka.

A memorial fund was established for Leland’s son, Keaton Lee Wikoff-Harris.

Arrest Made

James Stephan Phillips, who was 17 at the time of Leland Harris’ murder, was arrested on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, and charged with first-degree murder in Harris’s death. He was charged formally on Thursday, April 4, in Linn County District Court with first-degree murder, first-degree theft, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and going armed with intent.

Information

Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the Cedar Rapids Police Department at (319) 286-5491 or Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME or text CRIMES (274637) and in the message/subject, type 5227 and your tip. You can continue to trade information with an investigator. Text STOP to opt out at any time. Please reference case #2017-18948.

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