Elizabeth Harris, a 20-year-old African American woman from Pensacola, FL, tragically lost her life on May 27, 2019. Elizabeth was caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting outside the Platinum Club on Palafox Street. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. when members of the Bro Gang targeted a rival gang member in the club's overflow parking lot. The assailants fired 44 shots from seven different guns, hitting their intended target once and striking Elizabeth in the back.
She succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to the hospital.
The investigation into Elizabeth's death revealed that the shooting stemmed from a feud between the Bro Gang and the Cash Gang, which had been ongoing since 2017. This rivalry had already resulted in over 22 shootings in the community. On the night of the incident, Elizabeth had attended a concert at the Platinum Club with her sister and friends. Her presence at the scene was purely coincidental, as she was not involved in the gang activities.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Pensacola Police arrested three individuals in connection with Elizabeth's murder. Markeasia James, 17, and Tequan Warren, 18, were charged with first-degree felony murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and shooting into a vehicle. Dante Walker, 19, faced charges of accessory after the fact. A fourth suspect, Cordellious Dyess, 19, remained at large with active warrants for first-degree felony murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and shooting into a vehicle. Dyess was also wanted for additional charges, including aggravated assault, firing a weapon in public, possession of an altered firearm, and criminal mischief.
Elizabeth's family, including her mother Tawana Campbell and sister Vallie Harris, expressed their grief and relief at the arrests during a press conference. They acknowledged the tragic loss of their loved one and the impact on the families of the arrested teenagers, who now faced the possibility of spending their lives in prison. The community's reaction highlighted the broader issue of gang violence in Pensacola, with many calling for increased efforts to address the root causes of such conflicts and prevent further tragedies.
