Cody Lee Harris, a 27-year-old Caucasian man, Marine Corps veteran, and father, was fatally shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 12, 2016. Born on December 23, 1988, Harris was affectionately known as “Rudy” to family and friends. His life ended just eleven days before his birthday, leaving behind his fiancée, children, and a family devastated by the sudden loss.
What began as an ordinary Monday morning became a tragedy when Harris was discovered suffering from gunshot wounds near North 5th Street and West Walnut Street.
Shortly before 11:00 a.m., Milwaukee police responded to the area and found Harris critically wounded. Emergency personnel transported him to a nearby hospital, where he subsequently died from his injuries. The Milwaukee Police Department opened a homicide investigation and began searching for the person or persons responsible. Initial reports did not establish what led to the confrontation, whether Harris had been specifically targeted, or whether the shooting resulted from an argument, robbery, or another circumstance. Investigators were attempting to determine a motive while searching for suspects.
Harris had grown up in the Milwaukee area and graduated from Muskego High School in 2007. Later that summer, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and eventually served in Afghanistan. His family remembered how proud he was of his military service and the friendships he developed during his time in the Marines. While stationed in California, he enjoyed playing rugby with fellow Marines. Outside his military service, Harris loved spending time with his children, visiting parks, riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and gathering with relatives and friends. Those close to him described a caring person with a generous heart who valued his family and the relationships he had built throughout his life.
At the time of his murder, Harris was engaged to Savanna Boardman, and the couple was preparing to welcome another child. He was already the father of three children, Adriana, Ayla, and Lavin, with his fourth child, Lason, expected in January 2017. His unexpected death left Savanna facing the challenges of raising their young family without him. On December 17, 2016, Susannah LeRoy organized an online fundraiser on Savanna's behalf to help cover household bills and other expenses. The campaign emphasized the devastating effect of Harris's death on his children, fiancée, relatives, and many friends. The fundraiser received contributions from people hoping to provide financial assistance and emotional support during an extraordinarily difficult time.
His mother, Carrie Gaura, and his siblings, Angel and Billy Harris, were among the family members left grieving. His father, Bill Harris, had preceded him in death. The family arranged a visitation and funeral service for December 21, 2016, at Church and Chapel Funeral Home in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Harris was subsequently laid to rest at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, honoring his military service. Messages of remembrance described the heartbreak of losing someone whose life had been centered on family, friendship, and service.
The investigation into Harris's killing received limited public coverage beyond the initial announcement of his death. Milwaukee police confirmed that detectives were searching for suspects and attempting to establish a motive, but the available reporting did not identify a specific suspect, describe a confirmed sequence of events leading to the gunfire, or disclose whether investigators recovered evidence that could establish the shooter's identity. No reliable publicly accessible reports were located confirming an arrest, criminal charges, trial, or conviction specifically connected to Harris's murder. Consequently, the available information does not establish that anyone has been held criminally responsible for his death.
Harris's murder left unanswered questions about why he was shot during the late morning hours of December 12 and who was responsible for taking his life. For his family, the loss extended far beyond the events near 5th and Walnut. His children were left to grow up without their father, his fiancée lost the future they were building together, and his relatives and friends were left with memories of a devoted family member and proud Marine. Although the identity of the person responsible has not been established in the accessible reporting, Harris's death remains a reminder of the lasting consequences of gun violence and the importance of obtaining answers for families who have lost loved ones to homicide.
