In the late summer of 2021, the community of Bolivar, Tennessee, was shaken by the violent death of one of its own. Montreal Harris, a 33-year-old African American man, was found shot to death on South Madison Street on September 19, 2021. The discovery of his body launched a thorough investigation led by the Bolivar Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
For over two years, the case remained a focal point for law enforcement as they worked to bring justice for Harris and his family.
The investigation into Harris's death was a collaborative effort involving local and federal authorities. Investigators diligently pursued leads, and their persistence eventually pointed towards a suspect. In January 2024, a significant breakthrough occurred when a Hardeman County Grand Jury handed down an indictment. The indictment charged 35-year-old Rodriquez McNeal, also from Bolivar, with first-degree murder in connection with Montreal Harris's death.
Following the indictment, it was discovered that McNeal had fled the Bolivar area. The U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force was enlisted to locate and apprehend him. Their investigation led them to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where on January 24, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Middle Tennessee Joint Fugitive Task Force successfully located and arrested McNeal at an apartment. He was taken into custody and subsequently booked at the Hardeman County Jail, bringing a measure of resolution to a case that had impacted the Bolivar community for years.
