In the autumn of 2022, a young man's life was tragically cut short in Troy, Michigan. Gregory Harris Jr., a 25-year-old Black male, was shot and killed on November 7, 2022. The incident unfolded in the middle of the afternoon, around 3:45 p.m., within the walls of a residence at the Charter Square Apartments, situated near the intersection of Big Beaver and Rochester Roads.
The events that led to the fatal shooting reportedly began with an argument between Harris and another man.
That man was later identified as 23-year-old Calvin Louis Austin Jr. The dispute escalated to a point where multiple gunshots were fired, striking Harris and inflicting fatal wounds. A witness at the scene immediately contacted the authorities, providing crucial information about the suspected shooter. This quick action led Troy police officers to the apartment complex's parking lot, where they located and arrested Austin without any resistance.
Following his arrest, Calvin Louis Austin Jr. was charged with open murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. During his arraignment, he was denied bond, ensuring he would remain in custody as the legal process moved forward. A probable cause conference was scheduled for November 22, 2022.
The case proceeded to a preliminary examination on January 4, 2023. After reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution, which pointed to the shooting occurring after the argument between Harris and Austin, the judge determined there was sufficient evidence to send the case to trial. Austin was then scheduled for an arraignment in Oakland County Circuit Court on January 11, 2023. The trial for the murder of Gregory Harris Jr. was set to begin with jury selection on August 23, 2023, as the community awaited justice for a life ended too soon.
