In the late afternoon of a summer Saturday in Columbus, Mississippi, the life of 18-year-old Abria Ke'Amber Harris was cut tragically short. On August 10, 2024, the New Hope High School student was found deceased with a single gunshot wound to her head in a public parking area near the Columbus Riverwalk. The initial report to authorities came from her 20-year-old ex-boyfriend, Dietrix Cunningham, who claimed Harris had accidentally shot herself while playing with a gun.
However, the nature of the wound and the circumstances surrounding the event quickly led investigators to suspect foul play. What was first reported as an accidental shooting soon turned into a homicide investigation. The investigation by the Columbus Police Department concluded that Harris had not shot herself, leading to the arrest of Cunningham. He was subsequently charged with murder in connection with her death and booked into the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.
The community, particularly the students and faculty at New Hope High School, was shaken by the loss. In the days that followed, they gathered to remember Abria, holding a prayer service and releasing pink balloons, her favorite color, in her memory. Counselors and local pastors were made available to support the grieving students and staff as they coped with the sudden and violent loss of a classmate.
Dietrix Cunningham made his initial court appearance and was denied bond. He remained in the Lowndes County jail as the legal process moved forward. In May 2025, a Lowndes County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Cunningham, charging him with second-degree murder. As of that time, a trial date had not yet been set. The investigation into the death of Abria Harris remains ongoing.
