Two men sentenced to prison for Biloxi shooting that killed 1, injured another
Judge Randi Mueller has sentenced two South Mississippi men to 28 years in prison for second-degree murder and aggravated assault in an August 26, 2023, shooting that left one man dead and another injured, District Attorney Crosby Parker announced in a release.
Rashod Omrion Jerome Harris, 21, of Biloxi, and Harry Lavern Hillard Jr., 19, of Gulfport, were each sentenced to a total of 58 years on both charges, but Judge Mueller suspended all but 28 years. Both men must serve that time without the possibility of parole or early release.
The two shot and killed 20-year-old Damari Daniels and wounded Shadavion Smith, 22, during a confrontation in the parking lot of a Biloxi apartment complex. Biloxi police launched an investigation after responding to reports of gunfire in the 200 block of McDonnell Avenue. Detectives identified Harris and Hillard through surveillance footage and witness statements.
Before sentencing, Daniels’ family submitted a letter describing their grief and urging the defendants to seek faith and redemption while serving their time.
“The grace shown by Damari Daniels’ family in the wake of his murder is astounding,” Assistant District Attorney Mara Joffe said. “If these young men had offered an ounce of that grace to Damari Daniels and Shadavion Smith on August 26, 2023, we wouldn’t be in this tragic situation.”
Judge Mueller also reflected on the rise in gun violence before handing down the sentences.
“Mr. Hillard, I wish that this was a unique situation,” she said. “That’s not the world we’ve been living in for quite some time.”
In addition to the prison term, both men were ordered to serve 10 years of post-release supervision.
“Tragically, this case reflects a far too common pattern of senseless violence that devastates families and communities,” Parker said. “One young life has been lost, and now two others will spend more years behind bars than they’ve been alive. While this plea brings legal accountability, it cannot undo the irreversible pain caused. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family as they continue to grieve.”
