In the quiet suburban community of Oak Grove in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the life of 36-year-old Shauna Harris, a dedicated beautician and mother of three, was cut tragically short in December 2019. Despite ongoing marital problems that had led her to ask her husband, Percy Harris, for a divorce, they continued to live together for the sake of their children. This arrangement, however, would culminate in a horrific act of violence that shattered the peace of their home and the lives of their family.
On the night of December 22nd, the couple's eldest son placed a harrowing 911 call, reporting a heated argument between his parents. While waiting for law enforcement to arrive, he heard what he believed to be gunshots. Responding officers discovered a gruesome scene inside the family's home. Shauna Harris was found dead on the bedroom floor. An autopsy would later reveal the brutal extent of her injuries: she had been shot three times in the face and stabbed four times in the forehead. Her five-year-old twins were found huddled together, physically unharmed but undoubtedly traumatized by the events that had unfolded.
Percy Harris, a U.S. Army supply sergeant, was present at the scene and initially claimed that his wife had taken her own life. However, the evidence overwhelmingly contradicted his account. The nature and severity of Shauna's injuries made suicide a near impossibility, a fact underscored by the district attorney who noted the unlikelihood of someone shooting and stabbing themselves in such a manner. Just a few weeks prior to her death, Shauna had filed a petit larceny complaint against her husband, a detail that hinted at the escalating tensions within their relationship.
Percy Harris was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife. Throughout the investigation and his trial, he maintained his innocence, sticking to his story of suicide. A Lamar County jury, however, was not convinced. In October, Percy LeRon Harris was found guilty of first-degree murder. A judge subsequently sentenced him to life in prison, bringing a measure of justice to Shauna's grieving family. In the wake of this tragedy, Shauna's sister was granted custody of the three children, left to navigate a future without their mother.
