In the late hours of August 1, 2009, Trisha Babcock, a 24-year-old Caucasian woman, was sitting in her parked car on a darkened street in Detroit, Michigan. She was talking with a friend she had recently made when their conversation was abruptly interrupted. A young boy, later identified as 12-year-old DeMarco Harris, appeared at the driver's side window, brandishing a gun and demanding their belongings in a botched robbery attempt.
In a moment of disbelief and fear, Babcock attempted to
reason with the young assailant. Her words, however, were lost in the tense confrontation. As she reached for the gun, Harris pulled the trigger, shooting her three times. He then opened the car door, grabbed her purse, and fled into the night. Her friend ran for help, but by the time assistance arrived, Babcock was gravely wounded. She was transported to a nearby hospital, but ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
DeMarco Harris was arrested for the murder of Trisha Babcock. His first trial resulted in a hung jury. However, in a subsequent trial in 2010, he was convicted of felony murder, armed robbery, and a curfew violation. During the legal proceedings, Harris claimed an older youth had forced him to commit the robbery. He was given a blended sentence, initially placed in a high-security juvenile facility. The court determined that if he was not deemed satisfactorily adjusted by the time he turned 21, he could be sentenced as an adult to life in prison. Despite an emotional plea from Babcock's father, Harris was released from custody on his 21st birthday in 2017.
