In a tragic turn of events on June 26, 2022, Rhema Harris, a 28-year-old female corrections officer for the St. Joseph County Jail, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Mishawaka, Indiana. Harris, a U.S. Army veteran, was not the intended target of the violence that claimed her life. She was at a friend's house on Milburn Boulevard, attending a cookout, when she was struck by a stray bullet.
The gunfire erupted from a passing vehicle, with one of the rounds penetrating the home and fatally wounding Harris in the chest while she was in the kitchen.
The investigation into the senseless shooting led to the identification of two suspects, 17-year-old Braxton Bird and his 14-year-old brother, Braelyn Rios. Authorities determined that the shooting stemmed from a dispute Bird had with a teenage girl who lived at the residence. Bird, who was reportedly upset with the girl over a prior burglary arrest, had sent her threatening messages on social media before the incident. On the evening of the shooting, Bird, his brother, and three other individuals drove past the house twice before opening fire. Witnesses confirmed that Bird fired a rifle while his younger brother used a handgun.
Braxton Bird was subsequently charged as an adult with murder, attempted murder, and criminal recklessness. He was found guilty of murder and criminal recklessness in October 2023. In December 2023, Bird was sentenced to 58 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for the murder of Rhema Harris, with an additional three years for criminal recklessness to be served consecutively. During his sentencing, Harris's parents expressed their profound loss but also offered forgiveness to their daughter's killer.
Braelyn Rios, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, was also charged in connection with Harris's death. His case was initially handled in juvenile court but was later transferred to adult court. Rios eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated battery. He received a 24-year sentence, which will be suspended while he is treated as a juvenile until he turns 18. At that point, a judge will determine if he will serve his adult sentence or be released on probation.
