In the early hours of Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, the life of 19-year-old Black / African American female, Samirria White, was tragically cut short in her Saint Paul, Minnesota, apartment. The young mother was shot and killed by her 21-year-old boyfriend, Dimitri Harrell, during a heated argument. Several of White's siblings and others were present in the apartment at the time and overheard the couple arguing after Harrell had been coming and going throughout the night.
Witnesses reported that White had told Harrell she wanted to end their relationship.
The argument escalated in the bedroom, where the couple's three-month-old daughter was also present. White's brother, who was sleeping in the living room, was awakened by the loud argument and heard his sister exclaim, "Don't point that gun at me!". A single gunshot then rang out. When her brother rushed into the bedroom, he saw Harrell near his sister's body. Harrell claimed he did not mean to shoot White before fleeing the apartment. Police arrived at the apartment in the 800 block of Pierce Butler Route around 3:40 a.m. and found White deceased on the bedroom floor from a single gunshot wound to the head. Tragically, it was later revealed that Samirria was holding their infant daughter when she was shot.
Dimitri Harrell later turned himself in to the police and was arrested. He initially claimed the shooting was an accident, stating that the gun, which he had bought just days prior, discharged as he tried to pull it from his pocket while holding their baby. However, the evidence suggested otherwise, with reports indicating the gun was fired within inches of White's face. Harrell was charged with second-degree murder. He had a criminal history that included convictions for burglaries and robbery.
In August 2015, Dimitri Harrell pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional murder in the death of Samirria White. By pleading guilty, he admitted to shooting her in the face with a handgun while they argued. Prosecutors stated they would seek a 40-year sentence. Harrell was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 366 months in prison for his crime.
