In the pre-dawn hours of a cold November morning in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 24-year-old Kayla Marie Harris was returning home from work with her friend, Nicole Saylor, 36, and her cousin, Danielle Carter. As the three women approached the front porch of Harris's home on East Sherwood Terrace on November 9, 2017, they were ambushed by an assailant who opened fire. The attack was swift and brutal, leaving Harris and Saylor dead at the scene.
Carter, though critically injured, survived the onslaught.
The Fort Wayne Police Department quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence, but rather a targeted attack against the three women. Witnesses reported seeing a man in a dark hoodie fleeing the area shortly after the gunshots rang out. Despite this, a suspect has never been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in the years following the double homicide. One neighbor told reporters they recognized the shooter but that individual's identity has not been released by law enforcement who are still investigating the open case.
Kayla Harris was a mother to a young son and was described by her aunt as a fierce and courageous individual who was deeply admired by her family. The family has publicly stated their belief that the women had received threats prior to the shooting. In the wake of the tragedy, the community was left to mourn the loss of two young women and hope for answers that have yet to come. The investigation into the murders of Kayla Harris and Nicole Saylor remains ongoing.
