The family of former Baltimore City Councilman Kenneth Harris Sr., along with city police, is offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a third culprit in Harris’ killing.
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“There were three persons involved in the heinous crime … and my family and I will not stop until the third person is apprehended,” Harris’ daughter, Nicole Crest, said in a statement. “We have talked with individuals in the community, city officials, police officials and the story has even been televised nationally on America’s Most Wanted. All these acts have yet to bring the third suspect to light.”
Last week a Baltimore grand jury indicted Charles McGaney, 19, of the 1600 block of Lochwood Road in Baltimore, and Gary Collins, 20, of the 2600 block of Ivy Place in Parkville, on first-degree murder, assault, robbery and handgun charges related to Harris’ Sept. 20 death.
Three robbers “ambushed” Harris as he stood in front of the Haven Lounge in Northeast Baltimore with owner Keith Covington, 54, according to charged documents. Harris, 45, attempted to run to his car but was shot in his back through the driver’s-side window as he tried to get in the vehicle, police said.
Inside the lounge, the suspects stole a woman’s pocketbook, Covington’s wallet containing $160 and $1,375 from a safe, police said. A trail of physical evidence led detectives to an escape route, where they recovered Covington’s wallet and a skeleton mask worn by a suspect during the murder, charging documents state.
Police said they found “several other pieces of evidence from which laboratory technicians [were] able to develop DNA profiles.”
During their investigation, police said they located confidential witnesses who identified Collins and McGaney as the men caught on surveillance video walking in the shopping center — with McGaney carrying the skeleton mask — in the moments before the shooting.
Crest said she hopes the $20,000 reward will encourage someone to come forward and identify the third culptit in the killing of her father, who was married to Annette Harris and also had a son, Kenneth Harris Jr.
“As we all know, money talks,” Crest said, “and in these difficult economic times, we hope that this substantial $20,000 reward moves someone to speak up and do the right thing.”
