In the cool evening of November 2, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona, a sequence of events tragically culminated in the death of 24-year-old Quazhaun Leon Harrison, a Black / African American male. The incident began to unfold around 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of 35th and Glendale avenues, rooted in what authorities would later describe as a dispute over a drug transaction.
Harrison was in the driver's seat of his vehicle, where the arranged deal was supposed to take place.
An argument broke out between Harrison and Gerraud Ramon Mallett, who was 23 at the time. A female companion who was with Mallett later informed police that he had intended to rob Harrison. During the confrontation, Mallett and the woman left Harrison's car and walked into a nearby alley. Harrison followed them in his vehicle, and at some point during this pursuit, Mallett allegedly fired shots at him. Struck by the gunfire, Harrison lost control of his vehicle, which then crashed into a tree.
First responders arriving at the scene of the crash in northwest Phoenix discovered Harrison with a critical gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital in extremely critical condition, but despite the efforts of medical personnel, he was pronounced dead. In the immediate aftermath, Phoenix police had no leads on a suspect and appealed to the public for any information. The investigation continued for several months until a significant break in the case occurred.
On June 28, 2019, authorities arrested Gerraud Mallett in Chandler in connection with Harrison's death. Initially, when questioned, Mallett provided a false account of the events and was released. However, as the investigation progressed, police were able to determine his alleged responsibility for the shooting. Mallett was subsequently booked on one count of second-degree murder and was jailed on a $1 million bond. The arrest brought a measure of resolution to a case that had remained unsolved for over seven months.
