In the early evening of Sunday, May 7, 2017, the life of 20-year-old Harry Thomas Canady Jr., a Black male from Racine, Wisconsin, was tragically cut short. Canady was on a porch near the intersection of Memorial Drive and Winslow Street when a confrontation turned deadly. He was shot and, despite being rushed to Ascension All-Saints Hospital, succumbed to his injuries.
At the time of his death, Canady was reportedly waiting for a ride.
The investigation into the homicide quickly focused on 25-year-old Dominique Knight. According to a witness who had driven Knight to the scene, the incident stemmed from a dispute over money. The witness told police that Knight approached Canady on the porch, poked him in the face, and demanded, "where's my money at? You got my money?". Canady, while smiling and holding Knight's hands, replied, "I ain't got your money.". Moments later, Knight allegedly produced a gun and shot Canady, who immediately fell to the ground. The witness, who had been waiting in a car, panicked and fled the scene on foot but was soon stopped and interviewed by police.
In the days following the shooting, the Racine Police Department publicly identified Dominique Knight as the suspect in Canady's murder and warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous. By August 2017, Knight, who was listed as one of Wisconsin's Most Wanted, was in custody. He was formally charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. A cash bond was set at $500,000. The aftermath of the tragedy also saw a relative of Canady arrested for an alleged act of retaliation, accused of pointing a handgun at an individual he mistakenly believed was involved in his brother's death.
