In the late evening hours of March 4, 2022, the life of 31-year-old Stephen Michael Harris, a Black male, was tragically cut short in a burst of violence at the California Inn in Petersburg, Virginia. Harris was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds just after 9:30 p.m. at the hotel located on the 2200 block of County Drive. Despite being rushed to a Richmond-area hospital for emergency medical treatment, he succumbed to his injuries.
Stephen, born on September 29, 1990, was a son, brother, and friend who had grown up in the nearby Chesterfield County, graduating from Community High School in 2009. He had a passion for physical fitness, which led him to become a certified personal trainer and even briefly own his own business, Victory Fitness. His life was also marked by his faith, having been baptized at Union Branch Baptist Church in 2012 and later rededicating his life to Christ at Shiloh Baptist Church in 2017. Friends and family remember him as someone who was always willing to help others.
The Petersburg Police Department launched an investigation into the deadly shooting, which swiftly led to the identification and arrest of a suspect. Mike Stewart was taken into custody and faced a series of serious charges in connection with Harris's death. The charges brought against him included first-degree murder, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his arrest, Stewart was held in custody without bond. The investigation confirmed that Harris had been shot several times, leading to his life-threatening injuries.
