Archie Harris, a 49-year-old resident of Bellflower, California, tragically lost his life on the night of June 28, 2020, in Long Beach. Harris was found lying on the sidewalk in the 5800 block of Orange Avenue with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. Emergency responders from the Long Beach Fire Department arrived at the scene and pronounced him dead.
The incident marked the beginning of a sudden surge in gun violence in North Long Beach, which saw additional fatalities, including a woman who was shot during a vigil held in Harris' honor.
The investigation into Harris' death revealed that he was walking side-by-side with Gilbert Crawley, a 48-year-old man from Spokane, Washington, when Crawley shot him in the back of the head. The two men were known to each other, and video evidence showed Crawley deliberately slowing down to let Harris walk ahead before opening fire. Crawley fled the scene on foot but was apprehended the following afternoon during a traffic stop near Atlantic Avenue and the 91 Freeway. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
During the trial, Crawley claimed that the shooting was influenced by his consumption of alcohol the day before, following a nearly completed 30-day cleanse. He also alleged that Harris had given him PCP on the night of the shooting, a claim that Harris' family vehemently denied and the judge found unconvincing. Despite Crawley's apologies and explanations, the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder. On April 27, 2023, Crawley was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison.
Harris' family expressed their grief and the profound impact his death had on their lives. They described how Harris had been sharing plans and ideas to improve his life and that of his children shortly before his untimely death. The family emphasized that Crawley deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison for taking Harris' life. The case highlighted the devastating consequences of gun violence and the ripple effects it has on the community.
