Trevice Harris, a 37-year-old man from Youngstown, OH, tragically died on December 30, 2018. Harris was shot in the head while in a vehicle with his girlfriend, who was also wounded in the attack. The incident occurred after Harris and his girlfriend were forcibly taken from their home by gunpoint. The suspects, Lavontae Knight and an unidentified accomplice, drove the couple's SUV to a location on East Earle Avenue and Erie Street, where Knight shot into the vehicle.
Harris succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
Lavontae Knight, a 27-year-old man from Youngstown, was arrested on January 14, 2019, in connection with Harris's death. Knight faced charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and felonious assault. He was found in an apartment near the 3100 block of Leo Avenue, and a firearm was recovered and turned over to the Youngstown Police Department for ballistic testing.
In August 2022, Knight was convicted on all counts, including murder, robbery, and kidnapping, and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 58 years. However, in June 2024, the Seventh Appellate District Court in Mahoning County reversed Knight's conviction and remanded the case for a new trial. The court found that errors in the trial, including jury misconduct and the prosecution's failure to disclose DNA evidence, infringed on Knight's right to a fair trial.
The case remains ongoing, with Knight scheduled for a new trial. The reversal of his conviction has brought renewed attention to the tragic circumstances surrounding Trevice Harris's death and the legal proceedings that followed.
: WFMJ.com
: WKBN.com
: WKBN.com
: WKBN.com
