Julissa Mercedes Laslie, a 16-year-old resident of Mount Vernon, Illinois, born in Chicago, Illinois, tragically lost her life on January 13, 2024. She died just before 5 p.m. at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, following a shooting incident.
The shooting occurred in the 1800 block of Lamar Street in Mount Vernon. Police responded to a 911 call where screaming was heard, and upon arrival, they found Julissa had been shot. A 16-year-old juvenile male was taken into custody at the scene, holding a handgun. The male had a history of interactions with the law, including previous arrests for armed violence, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, armed robbery, and aggravated battery. At the time of the shooting, he was on juvenile parole.
The investigation led to the juvenile male, later identified as Decoleis Dunn-Harris, being detained on preliminary charges of armed violence/discharge of a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm, involuntary manslaughter, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under 18. However, as part of a plea deal, Dunn-Harris pleaded guilty to armed violence, with the other charges dropped.
Decoleis Dunn-Harris was subsequently sentenced to 28 years in prison for the fatal shooting. He will be required to serve at least 85% of his sentence and will be under three years of supervision upon his release.
Julissa is survived by her parents, Allen Laslie and Kathleen Hubler, and several siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Her family has set up a GoFundMe page in her honor to help with the funeral arrangements and other expenses.
