Frustrated by what they said was a lack of progress in the slaying case of former Baltimore City Councilman Ken Harris Sr., two dozen protesters gathered in front of City Hall Wednesday afternoon to put pressure on police to do more.
“We can help the police if they can share information with us,” said Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, president of the Baltimore chapter of the NAACP.
“We know the police can’t give us all the details, but the more information we have on the case the more we can do. …[The police should] hold a news conference, share the facts and let the community help.”
Radio host and community activist Daren Muhammad asked people to donate money to establish another reward fund for clues leading to the capture of Harris’ killer.
“We are going to raise our own reward money,” Muhammad said. “If we truly loved the councilman, the community can raise more than $2,000 to find out who killed him,” he said, referring to a Metro Crimestoppers reward in that amount for information leading to the arrest of the councilman’s killer.
Harris was gunned down in front of the Haven Lounge, a northeast Baltimore jazz club in the early morning of Sept. 20 during a robbery. A masked gunman shot Harris in the back as he tried to escape in his car.
Police released video images on Sunday that showed several men, one carrying a mask walking past an ATM camera just moments before the robbery occurred. They also found a ballistics match between the gun used to kill Harris and a bullet found on the scene of a January robbery of a nearby BP gas station.
“The mayor needs to show leadership,” said Lou Fields, president of the Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce. “You notice there are no other public officials here. She [Mayor Sheila Dixon] needs to communicate with the public and let them know what’s happening with the case.”
Organizers of the protest said anyone who wishes to donate to the newly established reward fund for information leading to the arrest of Harris’ killer can call 410-728-0877.
