The colleagues of slain City Councilman Kenneth Harris Sr. want Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld to give them an update on the hunt for his killer.
More than a month after the popular politician was gunned down during a robbery of a Northeast Baltimore jazz club, City Councilwoman Helen Holton will introduce a resolution at Monday’s council meeting seeking testimony from Bealefeld on the status of the ongoing investigation.
“I’m concerned there is no sense of urgency to find out who killed him,” said Holton, D-District 8. “There is a murderer walking the streets feeling some sense of victory.”
The hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 5, Holton said. Harris’ wife, Annette Harris, said in a written statement to The Examiner that she supported the measure.
“I’m glad to see Councilwoman Holton ask for a status on the investigation. Solving this heinous crime must be a top priority for the City Council, the Council President and the Mayor,” Harris wrote.
“What’s also desperately needed is the cooperation from those who know who did this to my husband. I’m urging you to do the right thing and call the police.”
Police spokesman Sterling Clifford said Bealefeld would testify at the hearing.
“It is difficult to imagine a case where there is a greater sense of urgency. The commissioner is more than willing to answer the council’s questions.”
Harris was shot around 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 20 at the Haven Lounge, a jazz club in the Northwood Shopping Plaza. Four gunmen accosted Harris as he exited the club with owner Keith Covington. The robbers pushed Covington back inside as Harris made a break for his car. According to police, Harris was then shot in the back through the driver’s-side window. He died later at a hospital.
Since his death, police have released surveillance video showing several men, one possibly carrying a mask, walking past a nearby automated teller machine just minutes before the shooting occurred. Police have matched a bullet from a January robbery attempt at a gas station just blocks from the Haven to the gun used to kill Harris.
Harris, a Democrat, served the city’s 4th District for two terms before giving up his seat to run for council president in 2007, a race he lost to Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
Former colleagues of Harris also expressed concern that the investigation is stalled.
“I have always been optimistic that they are going to solve this, but I think as time goes by that optimism is beginning to fade,” said Councilman Robert Curran, D-District 3.
Holton said the hearing was only the beginning of her quest to seek justice for Harris.
“If we can’t solve the case of someone who served the city so well, what does this mean for the cases of the unknown?” Holton asked.
“I’m not going to let this rest.”
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